NBA Trainer Hints at Major Leap for Lakers’ Bronny James
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James faces intense scrutiny as he prepares for his second NBA season, but NBA trainer Chris Brickley believes the young guard is ready to make a major leap.
The son of LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a perennial contender for the title of greatest of all time, Bronny has dealt with both enormous expectations and unwarranted criticism.
NBA Trainer Sees Promising Future
Brickley, who has worked closely with the father-and-son duo, says Bronny did not deserve the hate and predicts that the 20-year-old guard’s best basketball is still ahead.
“It’s [expletive] ’cause at the end of the day, he didn’t choose to be LeBron’s son,” Brickley said on “The Breakfast Club” on Sept. 1. “He’s a great — he’s literally a great kid. And you can tell it’s a sore spot for the family. I wouldn’t want someone messing with my kid. None of you guys would. But Bronny’s actually really good. I think he’s just gonna peak in a year or two.”
The endorsement from Brickley underscores a growing belief that Bronny could become a meaningful contributor as he gains experience and confidence at the NBA level.
Rookie Season and Challenges
Selected 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny entered a crowded Lakers backcourt and faced the challenge of living up to his famous surname. He finished his rookie season averaging 2.3 points in 6.7 minutes across 27 games, including one start.
Despite modest numbers, the Lakers’ coaching staff remains optimistic.
“I love Bronny. Great young man and we expect him to possibly get some minutes this year,” Lakers associate head coach Nate McMillan said on “The Sports Shop with Reese and K-Mac” on Aug. 5.
Bronny’s Summer League Growth
Bronny’s second NBA Summer League showed marked improvement. He averaged 14.2 points on 47.6% shooting, 3.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds, a significant jump from his rookie Summer League performance of 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists on 35% shooting.
“We’ve seen a lot of growth from year one,” McMillan said. “He had, I thought, a really good Summer League this year. A young guy like that coming in with this type of pressure that he came into the league with last year was unbelievable. His games were sold out, and the fanbase has really been supportive of him.”
G League Confidence Boost
Much of Bronny’s development came during his G League stint last season, where he averaged 21.9 points on a 44/38/82 shooting split, along with 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals over 11 games. McMillan noted that the experience helped Bronny gain confidence, sharpen his skills, and become more relaxed under pressure.
“His shot was never broken, but the confidence, you could see he was knocking down those shots, getting to the basket,” McMillan said. “When he came out into this Summer League… you could see the confidence. He was much more relaxed than he was last year.”
Can Bronny Crack Lakers’ Rotation?
As Bronny enters his second NBA season, Brickley’s prediction provides a compelling storyline for Lakers fans: a young player poised to rise and carve out his own identity, away from the shadow of his legendary father.
With Summer League growth and G League seasoning under his belt, Bronny appears ready to turn promise into performance, potentially peaking in the next one or two seasons.
Will he crack the Lakers’ rotation this time?
Only time will tell.
Hall of Famer’s Take on LeBron James Sparks New Lakers Debate
Even with speculation about his future, LeBron James continues to be the standard by which today’s stars are measured. Recently, Charles Barkley drew parallels between James and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, fresh off an MVP and Finals MVP season.
On The Bill Simmons Podcast, Barkley said that while Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant carried a “killer” edge, James — and now Gilgeous-Alexander — dominate the game in a different way.
“The three best players I’ve ever seen are Michael, Kobe and LeBron… Michael and Kobe were dangerous. They will kill your a–. LeBron is a nice guy, and that’s not a knock. He’s still great, great, great, but he’s a nice guy,” Barkley said.
He added that SGA has a similar “nice guy” aura, even as he puts up massive numbers on the game’s biggest stage.
Why LeBron Still Defines the Lakers Standard
Barkley’s comments highlight why James is still such a reference point. His game style has become a lens through which rising stars are judged. That’s part of why his status with the Los Angeles Lakers was such a major storyline this offseason.
Rumors suggested James was unsettled as the team pivoted toward Luka Doncic as the face of the franchise. That speculation sparked questions about whether James might consider his options. But according to those close to the situation, the reality may not have been quite as dramatic as some of the headlines made it seem.
Lakers Insider Pushes Back on Exit Talk
NBA insider Jared Greenberg downplayed the idea that James ever wanted out. Speaking on The Good Word with Goodwill, he pointed out that LeBron had the option to test free agency but chose to remain in Los Angeles.
“LeBron had the opportunity this summer to be a free agent and sign wherever he wanted… He didn’t want to sign for the minimum, he did not want to give away his no-trade clause. … Don’t then be confused as to why he’s still a Laker.” — via Yahoo Sports
Greenberg’s perspective suggests the exit chatter may have been overblown. Still, in today’s NBA, where stars often shift course quickly, it’s difficult to completely rule out future twists.
Lakers Would Be Reluctant to Move LeBron
Even if James had frustrations, a trade would have been highly unlikely. New owner Mark Walter is unlikely to want his name tied to such a move. Few executives would willingly attach their legacy to trading away one of the greatest players of all time.
That doesn’t mean circumstances can’t change down the line, but for now, James remains central to the team’s plans. He’s still producing at an elite level, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game last season. That kind of output keeps the Lakers competitive while Doncic enters his prime.
The Bottom Line
Barkley’s comparison shows how James continues to shape conversations about greatness — not just through his own game, but by how others are measured against him.
The rumors about a possible exit may have been overstated. James hasn’t pushed for a trade, and the Lakers appear in no rush to move him. But in a league where things change quickly, the speculation isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon.
For now, the focus turns to whether the James-Doncic pairing can push Los Angeles back into title contention — and whether LeBron can continue to set the standard for both his team and the league’s rising stars.
