Bronny James enters third Lakers season
LeBron Raymone James Jr., known as Bronny James, enters his third NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers in October 2026, remaining under contract after LeBron James left Los Angeles for Philadelphia during the 2026 offseason.
The younger James is 22 years old and, during training camp, remains focused on earning a regular rotation role after spending his first two seasons developing between Los Angeles and South Bay.
Bronny James keeps guaranteed Lakers salary
Bronny James has a guaranteed 2026-27 salary of $2,296,271, giving him a confirmed roster contract for the season after the Lakers guaranteed the third year of his rookie deal before the 2026-27 campaign.
His 2027-28 season remains a team option worth $2,486,995, according to contract data, so the Lakers have another decision after the current season ends and James completes another year of development.
Bronny James stays after LeBron leaves
Bronny James stayed with the Los Angeles Lakers after LeBron James announced in June that he would leave the franchise and later signed with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2026-27 season.
The separation ended two seasons as NBA teammates, including their historic first game together on October 22, 2024, when the Lakers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles during the regular season.
Bronny James gets a different Lakers role
Bronny James enters 2026-27 without his father occupying a Lakers roster spot, leaving the younger guard to build his professional identity within a roster led by Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves during training camp.
NBA.com reported that James is still working to earn a rotation role, while the Lakers enter the season after going 53-29 and reaching the Western Conference semifinals in 2025-26.
Bronny James improves his NBA shooting
Bronny James averaged 2.9 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across 42 NBA games in 2025-26, while shooting 40.9% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range during the regular season.
Those numbers improved his shooting profile from his rookie season, when he averaged 2.3 points and shot 28.1% from three-point range across 27 regular-season games for the Lakers in 2024-25.
Fun fact: Bronny James became the first player ever drafted into the NBA while his father was an active NBA player when the Lakers selected him 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Bronny James finds bigger role with South Bay
Bronny James used G League assignments during his development, with South Bay providing extended minutes that were harder to secure in the Lakers’ rotation during the 2025-26 regular season.
NBA G League records list 15.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game for James in 2025-26, showing a larger offensive role with South Bay than he held with Los Angeles in the NBA.
Bronny James earned more chances late season
Bronny James received increased opportunities when Lakers guards missed time during the 2025-26 season, including a 12-point game against San Antonio and double-digit scoring performances against Oklahoma City, Golden State, and Utah.
NBA.com records also show an 11-point performance against Utah on April 12, 2026, in which James made 4-of-7 shots and 3-of-4 three-point attempts in 19 minutes.
Bronny James faces guard competition
Bronny James is competing for backcourt opportunities on a Lakers roster that includes Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Jaden Hardy, Dalton Knecht, and other guards entering the 2026-27 season alongside established Lakers backcourt players.
The competition matters because Los Angeles has built a deeper roster around Dončić. At the same time, James remains a developing guard whose role can expand through shooting, defense, and reliable decision-making as the 2026-27 Lakers season approaches.
Bronny James draws reported trade interest
Bronny James has recently drawn reported interest from other NBA teams. However, the Lakers are not reported to be actively seeking a trade involving their young guard this month, according to recent NBA trade reporting.
Recent reporting says rival teams could consider offering future second-round picks, while the Lakers must balance roster construction with James remaining under a guaranteed contract for the 2026-27 season.
Bronny James remains under Lakers control
Bronny James was listed among the Lakers players under contract in the NBA’s 2026 team profile, confirming his place in the franchise’s planned roster structure before the 2026-27 regular season begins.
The Lakers selected James 55th overall in 2024 after his lone USC season, in which he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over 25 games for the Trojans before beginning his third NBA season.
Bronny James brings defensive potential
Bronny James entered the NBA with a reputation for perimeter defense, energy, and catch-and-shoot ability, traits NBA draft analysis identified as possible pathways to a professional role according to the NBA draft scouting report.
At USC, James averaged 0.8 steals in 25 games and shot 36.6% overall, while his draft profile described his athleticism as a major strength for defending NBA guards during his only college basketball season.
Bronny James has a development path
Bronny James can continue developing through NBA rotation minutes and G League assignments. This path has already given him opportunities to handle greater offensive responsibilities with South Bay than in his Lakers role.
NBA teams can assign players on standard contracts with fewer than 3 years of NBA service to their G League affiliates an unlimited number of times during the season under current assignment rules.
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Bronny James has a clear next step
Bronny James has a guaranteed Lakers contract for 2026-27, but his long-term position remains tied to performance, roster needs, and the team’s decision on his 2027-28 option, after the Lakers guaranteed his current-season salary.
The immediate update is clear as of October 2026: James remains with the Los Angeles Lakers, enters his third season, and has an opportunity to establish his role without LeBron beside him on the Lakers’ roster.
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What do you think Bronny James needs to prove this season to secure a bigger role with the Lakers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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