Basketball can be a cruel game. One night you’re a meme, and the next, you’re the only guy on the floor making a 20,000-seat arena hold its breath. When people talk about Bronny James Lakers Bucks, they usually split into two camps: the skeptics who think he’s only there because of his last name, and the optimists who see a defensive diamond in the rough.
But if you actually watched the game on March 20, 2025, you saw something different. It wasn't just a "narrative" game. It was a statistical explosion that nobody—honestly, not even the most die-hard Lakers fans—saw coming.
The Night the Shots Finally Fell
The Lakers were a mess heading into that March matchup. Injuries had absolutely gutted the roster. No LeBron. No Luka Dončić (who joined the Lakers in a blockbuster move that still feels surreal). No Austin Reaves. It was basically a "who’s who" of guys usually at the end of the bench.
Bronny stepped into the vacuum. He didn't just play; he led.
He finished with 17 points, shooting a crisp 7-of-10 from the field. For a kid who had been struggling to hit 30% from the floor for most of the season, that efficiency was a massive middle finger to the "he can't shoot" crowd. He wasn't just camping in the corner either. He was aggressive. He hit a pull-up floater over Brook Lopez that had the bench losing their minds.
He also chipped in:
🔗 Read more: Navy vs Oklahoma Football: What Most People Get Wrong
- 5 assists (including a full-court outlet pass to Markieff Morris that looked exactly like his dad’s signature highlights).
- 3 rebounds.
- 29 minutes of floor time (the most he’d seen all year).
The Lakers lost 118-89. It was a blowout. But for the first time, the post-game highlights weren't about LeBron watching his son; they were about Bronny actually playing like an NBA guard.
Why the November 2025 Start Felt So Different
Fast forward to the current 2025-26 season. The Lakers met the Bucks again on November 15, 2025. This time, the vibe was weirdly different. LeBron was actually assigned to the G League (South Bay Lakers) at the time for a conditioning stint following a sciatica flare-up.
So, Bronny started for the Lakers while LeBron was technically a "minor leaguer."
Austin Reaves joked about it after the game, calling it "awesome" and "fun," but the actual performance was a reality check. Bronny played 10 minutes, took two shots, and missed both. He finished with 0 points.
This is the nuance people miss. One night he looks like a future starter (the 17-point March game), and the next, he looks like a guy who still needs two more years of seasoning. He’s showing flashes of elite perimeter defense—his hands are incredibly active—but the offensive consistency just isn't there yet. He’s currently averaging about 2.3 points and 1.9 assists per game this season.
The JJ Redick Factor
Coach JJ Redick hasn't been easy on him. There was a moment earlier this season against Milwaukee where Redick was caught on camera basically screaming at Bronny to "shoot the ball."
That’s the hurdle. Bronny is almost too unselfish. He’s so worried about making the "right" play that he sometimes passes up open looks, which kills the spacing. Gilbert Arenas talked about this on his show, basically saying Bronny is playing "safe" basketball. Safe basketball in the NBA gets you a seat on the bench.
In the G League, the kid is a different animal. With South Bay, he’s been averaging over 21 points per game. He has the "green light" there. The struggle for the Lakers' coaching staff is figuring out how to translate that G League confidence into the 10-minute bursts he gets against teams like the Bucks.
What's Next?
If you’re following this saga, don't just look at the box score. Watch his feet. Against Milwaukee's elite guards, Bronny proved he can stay in front of almost anyone. His lateral quickness is legit.
The Lakers just signed Kobe Bufkin to a 10-day contract, which means the "hot seat" for those backup guard minutes is getting warmer. Bronny needs to find that March 2025 aggression again.
Actionable Insights for Following Bronny's Development:
- Watch the "Pass-to-Shot" Ratio: If Bronny is passing up open corner threes, he’s likely headed back to South Bay for a few weeks. The Lakers need him to be a threat to keep defenses honest.
- Monitor the G League Schedule: The Lakers are using a "yo-yo" strategy. He’ll likely spend 3-4 days with South Bay for every 1 day with the main roster. This is for reps, not a "demotion."
- Focus on Defensive Win Shares: Even when he scores zero points, check his +/-. Often, he’s a net positive because he disrupts the opposing team's rhythm.
- The "Luka Effect": Now that Luka Dončić is the primary ball-handler in LA, Bronny’s role is strictly 3-and-D. He doesn't need to be a playmaker; he just needs to hit the open shots Luka creates.
The Bronny James Lakers Bucks matchups have become the ultimate litmus test for his career. One showed his ceiling, the other showed his floor. Now, we just have to see where he decides to live.