Bronnie James capitalized on an opportunity in less than 30 seconds during his 2025 NBA Summer League debut at the California Classic held at the Chase Center. The second-year guard for the Los Angeles Lakers swiftly advanced, seizing a loose ball from Miami Heat’s Caspara Lacciaccionis. At just 20 years old, James powered past the free throw line and executed a one-handed dunk with impressive athleticism.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Bronnie displayed smooth, fluid movements and took a moment to observe the court after his play. Despite standing 6-foot-2, he compensates for his lack of height with notable jumping ability.
About a minute and a half later, James drained one of his two three-pointers for the day. He scored 10 points in the first half but did not play the second half, finishing with 11 minutes on the court as the Lakers secured a 103-83 win. Among the five Los Angeles starters, James logged the fewest minutes.
In his rookie season, James appeared in 27 games for the Lakers, shooting 31.3% from the field and averaging 2.3 points in 6.7 minutes per game. However, his performance in the G League was impressive, averaging 21.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds with a 44% shooting rate in 11 games for the South Bay Lakers.
His top NBA game last season came on March 20, when he scored 17 points and handed out five assists despite a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. After starting the second quarter on Sunday, James missed three shots but later made another three-pointer assisted by 2024 draft pick Dalton Knecht. He also made two free throws before halftime.
James ended the game with plus/minus +4, shooting 3-for-7, grabbing two rebounds, and contributing a steal that led to his highlight dunk. Meanwhile, Knecht struggled, shooting 3-for-13 and missing all three three-point attempts. The 17th overall pick last year managed just four points, shooting 2-for-7.
Knecht averaged 9.1 points per game for the Lakers in 2024-25 with a 37.6% shooting rate, despite a tough encounter with Miami rookie Dain Dainja. Former Villanova and Syracuse forward Cole Swider led the Lakers with 20 points in the game.
Still, it was James who left a stronger impression early on with a memorable highlight in the first minute of the game.
Fan Take: Bronnie James is showing flashes of his potential and athleticism that could make him a standout player in the NBA, continuing the legacy of his father. This news excites basketball fans as it highlights the emergence of young talent that could shape the future of the sport.
