Bronny James' debut caused 'tension' in Lakers locker room with 'unity lacking'

Tensions are rising within the Los Angeles Lakers organization following Bronny James debut in the NBA Summer League , according to reports.

Insiders voiced concern over possible friction, implying the young player's roster slot might be agitating playing time opportunities. As the son of LeBron James , the 55th overall selection of the 2024 NBA Draft, James is averaging 8.8 points through four games played in the Summer League this season. He's played 25.1 minutes per game, slightly less than Dalton Knecht, whom they took with the 17th pick.

Bronny's NBA Summer League debut with the Lakers has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, with moments of promise and flashes of pro-level success. In his opening game against the Sacramento Kings , Bronny scored four points, grabbed two rebounds, and dished out two assists. Despite his hustle, he had a tough time finding his shooting rhythm, going 2-for-9 from the field and missing all three of his 3-point attempts.

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Sitting out the next game against the Golden State Warriors, Bronny returned to the court against the Miami Heat in an 80-76 loss. He scored three points, made one of three shots, and continued struggling from beyond the arc, missing all his 3-point attempts. His shooting woes persisted in a 99-80 loss to the Houston Rockets, where he shot 3-for-14, finishing with eight points. The slump continued against the Boston Celtics, where he managed just two points on two field goals from five attempts.

The highlight of Bronny's Summer League came in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers . He delivered his best performance, scoring 13 points, grabbing five rebounds, and recording three steals. He shot an impressive 5-for-10 from the field, including one of three from downtown, leading the Lakers to a 93-89 victory.

Despite his mixed performances, Bronny and Knecht were sat in the Lakers final Summer League game against the Chicago Bulls, a decision officially listed as for rest. However, whispers from The Sun suggest some within the Lakers organization struggle to help build team camaraderie, feeling that Bronny's playing time was prioritized to showcase his potential rather than foster team unity.

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One anonymous player told The Sun: "I ended up being very frustrated because I was never put in the best situation, or even put in some plays or game plans because they wanted Bronny to show his skills and shine."

Another source has told The Sun the attention Bronny received around his debut was "very frustrating" for other players to see. The source, who said the Lakers locker room has "nothing against" Bronny, added: "That kind of tension didn’t help the group of players to build chemistry... And you could feel that there was no unity [between] this group of guys."

Outside of Bronny and Knecht, the Lakers Summer League roster included point guards Tommy Kuhse and Quincy Olivari. Kuhse averaged 20.6 minutes per game, while Olivari played 16.6 minutes. Trent Forrest and Blake Hinson, guards on the summer league roster, averaged fewer minutes than Bronny, who played the second most minutes on the team, just behind Knecht.