Bronny James Shines Despite Lakers' Struggles Against Bucks

Without their top four scorers available on Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers had to rely on new faces, including Bronny James, in their game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Although the game didn’t pan out favorably for the Lakers, James managed to have a standout night.

LeBron James’ son showcased his skills by scoring 17 points—the first time he’s reached double digits in his career—while going 7-for-10 on his shots. He also contributed five assists, three rebounds, and four turnovers over 30 minutes of play, despite the team ultimately falling to Milwaukee with a score of 118-89. During James’ time on the court, the Lakers were outscored by 36 points.

Tying with fellow newcomer Dalton Knecht, James led the team in scoring with those 17 points.

Achieving a 10-point game is particularly notable in the shadow of his father, LeBron, who is known for an astonishing NBA record of 1,280 consecutive games scoring in double digits.

Throughout the season, Bronny James has been moving between the Lakers and their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. This strategy has allowed him to dodge most road games in the G League while still making appearances with the main NBA squad, often attracting attention as a fan favorite during games that aren’t closely contested.

Opportunities like Thursday offer Bronny more significant playing time, especially since the Lakers were hit hard with injuries. LeBron James (groin) and Rui Hachimura (ankle) have missed several games, and both Luka Dončić (ankle) and Austin Reaves (ankle) also had to sit this one out. Altogether, these four sidelined players have typically contributed a collective average of 84.4 points per game this season.