The Los Angeles Lakers took a strategic rest night on Thursday, sitting Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and several injured players, including LeBron James. As expected, the short-handed team struggled against the Milwaukee Bucks, losing 118-89.
With a packed schedule—four games in five nights—head coach JJ Redick saw the decision as necessary. Resting players against an Eastern Conference team, rather than a direct Western rival, also made sense in the tight playoff race.
However, the night provided a silver lining: a breakout performance from rookie Bronny James. Given extended minutes, he made the most of the opportunity, scoring 17 points, grabbing three rebounds, and dishing out five assists in 30 minutes. He shot an impressive 7-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-4 from three.
Redick took notice but wasn’t surprised. Speaking with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, he expressed confidence in James’ potential.
“His confidence is growing,” Redick said. “The next step is becoming an elite-conditioned athlete. Once he does that—with his physical tools, quickness, and ball-handling—and given that we believe he’ll be a strong NBA shooter, he’ll have a real chance to make an impact.”
This performance could be a turning point for Bronny, boosting his confidence as he continues developing his game. Having the ball in his hands in a low-pressure setting helped showcase his abilities. Now, he’ll look to build on this momentum.
Redick emphasized that improving his conditioning is key, but with only 22 NBA games under his belt, that growth should come naturally over time.
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