Jeanie Buss hopes Lakers’ roster has ‘same mentality’ Bronny James has displayed

Jeanie Buss isn't ready to dub Bronny James as the Los Angeles Lakers' next high-impact player, but she is a big fan of what she's seen from the second-round pick thus far.

Buss also didn't ignore the elephant in the room regarding the younger James having to overcome being the son of superstar LeBron James. During a recent interview with AM 570 LA Sports , the Lakers owner spoke about allowing Bronny to "prove that he should be in a Laker uniform" while praising his work ethic and dedication.

“Yeah, I mean, again, we have to let the kid have an opportunity to play and prove that he should be in a Laker uniform," Buss said, via Hoops Hype . "And everything that we’ve seen from him and about him and his work ethic, just some of the things he’s had to overcome being the son of a big star. He works hard, he’s dedicated. He really wants to do this. And if we can have a roster of players with that same mentality, then I think the sky is the limit.”

It's a unique evaluation from Buss, and it's rare to hear something like this about a rookie, let alone a late-second-round pick. But as NBA fans are already well aware of, the situation with the 19-year-old son of one of the league's most iconic stars is drastically far from normal.

While Bronny showcased a well-rounded game with unique upside on both ends of the floor during play at the 2024 NBA Summer League, he'll likely spend time in the G League for a good portion of the upcoming season. Whether he makes the leap to join the Lakers will be a primary storyline, trumped only by the question of when he'll share the court with his father for the first time.