Bronny James' difficult start to the NBA season continued as the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-115.
The Lakers bounced back from their loss to the Portland Trail Blazers earlier in the week, largely thanks to Jake LaRavia and Austin Reaves, who scored 27 and 28 points respectively.
Head coach JJ Redick is currently without several of his key players, including NBA icon LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Their absences have provided an opportunity for others in the Lakers squad to impress, but LeBron's son Bronny has so far struggled to seize his opportunity.
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The 21-year-old was on the court for five minutes against the Timberwolves, but failed to record any scoring contributions during his brief cameo.
It was his third appearance of the season, having previously featured for 20 minutes against the Trail Blazers and three minutes in an earlier match with the Timberwolves.
His strongest performance so far came against Portland.
James registered three assists and one steal, although he was unable to score a single point.
His disappointing start has fuelled speculation that this could be his final season in the NBA, with some fans suggesting he has only been given an opportunity because of his famous father.
Last season, LeBron and Bronny made history when they became the first father-son duo in NBA history to take to the court together.
But since that moment in October 2024, Bronny has faced accusations of being a 'nepo baby'.
Despite the criticism, Bronny showed his talent in the development G League, earning praise for his consistent performances.
However, he has yet to make the same impact in the NBA.
After defeat to the Trail Blazers, one X user wrote: "Bronny James might be the worst basketball player I’ve ever witnessed."
But some fans believe that James, who has a wingspan of six foot seven, could develop into a strong defensive player.
"Bronny James is actually an elite defender he needs more playing time," said another fan.
Following the Lakers' victory over the Timberwolves, Redick confirmed that Doncic is expected to return soon.
Meanwhile, James is still recovering from a sciatica injury that is expected to keep him out until the second of third week of November.
Until they return, Bronny looks set to continue making brief appearances off the bench.
But unless he can start contributing offensively, questions over his NBA future will just continue to grow.
Topics: Basketball, Lebron James, NBA
James Taylor