Will Bronny James ever play in the NBA for the LA Lakers? Major concerns over LeBron’s son stand ahead of preseason

AS long as LeBron James reps the purple and gold, Bronny James’ chance to play in the NBA will most certainly come with the Lakers, but the question is, when would his debut happen?

The 2024 second-round pick, 19, has obstacles that stand in the way of him landing on the Los Angeles Lakers team.

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Getty

Bronny will have a chance to play in the Lakers’ preseason which begins on October 4.

Just like he experienced in the Summer League, the USC product will have all eyes on him as he and LeBron embark on becoming the first-ever father-son duo in NBA history .

But once the preseason is over, the Lakers will likely have Bronny work on his game in the G League for the majority of the season.

New head coach JJ Redick will be asking for contributions from LeBron, Anthony Davis , the team’s 2024 first-round pick Dalton Knecht, and a group that’s more of the same from last season.

It would be tough to put Bronny on the court early on in the 2024-25 season – a year removed from playing his lone season at USC following a cardiac arrest scare in an offseason workout with the team.

Still, he signed a four-year guaranteed contract – and whatever LeBron wants, the four-time NBA champion will likely get.

At 6-foot-2, Bronny can play the point guard and shooting guard positions.

But his ballhandling is a work-and-progress which led to him playing shooting guard during the Summer League.

And his shooting got off to a horrific start in the off-season competition, scoring 7 for 31 overall.

Bronny did finish strongly, scoring 25 points on 10-of-21 shooting over his final two games, including making 3-of-8 three-pointers after going 0 for 15 in his first four games.

He will still have an uphill battle to climb to join the NBA roster during the season due to the team being filled with guards with NBA experience, Gabe Vincent and Max Christie among them.

Other than improving his game, there will still be aspects that could help Bronny reach the NBA hardwood in his rookie season.

The Lakers could get hit with multiple injuries to their guard position, leaving them with the option of calling up Bronny.

Los Angeles also knows the amount of buzz he would generate if he debuts at Crypto.com Arena alongside his dad LeBron.

AP

The superstar LeBron could also be eager about playing with his son – and the elder will be 40 in December.

Remember, the NBA icon reportedly said in the Lakers locker room that “(Bronny) could play for us right now. Easy.”

The middle to the end of the 2024-25 season seems to be the best bet for Bronny to wear the Lakers uniform and play as a bench piece in blowouts or help a potential injury-plagued squad.

Bronny would then have to be ready for tough opposing defenses who won’t want to let the rookie get the better of them.

But just like any father would, LeBron can act as the safety net for Bronny to fall back on.

Intriguingly, the youngster was seen earlier this month working out with ex-NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award winner Jordan Clarkson and All-Star guard Darius Garland in preparation for his rookie season.

Above all, Bronny has to get through the wear-and-tear of development before even thinking of stepping foot on the NBA court.

And he can’t say “dad” to LeBron at the Lakers training facility.

“[Bronny] cannot call me dad, in the workplace,” the four-time MVP said recently on his ports talk show The Shop: Uninterrupted.