JJ Redick Deflects Blame From Bronny James’ Poor Preseason Outing Against Warriors

JJ Redick admitted Bronny James has not played well through the four preseason games.

JJ Redick Deflects Blame From Bronny James’ Poor Preseason Outing Against Warriors

JJ Redick and Bronny James (Image credits - The New York Times and Fadeaway Sports)

Bronny James is gearing up for his third NBA season. Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, James has struggled to make a mark in his first two seasons in the league.

In his first two seasons, Bronny shared the locker room with his father, LeBron James. But after his exit in the summer, questions arose about Bronny’s future with the Lakers.

However, head coach JJ Redick and the Lakers management were happy to keep him. The 22-year-old has been working on his game and training well during the offseason.

Following their preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors, JJ Redick was asked in his press conference about James’ confidence and aggression compared to last season. The former player said

I thought he had a really nice September and a good summer with us. I don’t think he’s played well in the four preseason games, but he’s had good practices. I mean, again, some of it’s just rhythm, some of it’s who he’s playing with, right? So some of it is like the group he’s with; I think that is not necessarily setting him up for success.

JJ Redick in his press conference

While James has had a few bright moments, he has largely struggled to impose himself during the Lakers’ first four preseason games. The 2026-27 campaign will be crucial for James, as the Lakers have stuck with him and rejected trade offers for him this summer.

Redick didn’t sugarcoat the young star’s preseason. The head coach has often defended James when he was criticized over the last two years, but he hasn’t liked what he’s seen from the guard in preseason so far.

RELATED
LeBron James Reveals Not Watching Anthony Edwards Comic Diss Ad Due to ‘Hate’ For Adidas

Fans react to JJ Redick defending Bronny James by pointing at difficult lineup contexts

The pressure is mounting on Bronny James to bounce back after a difficult two years in the NBA. While he may be a second-round pick, being the son of LeBron James does not make his life any easier. He is averaging 2.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in preseason.

Following Redick’s comments, fans were taken aback and reacted to them across social media.

Fans did not hesitate in calling out Redick for protecting Bronny James and throwing his other players under the bus. With no LeBron on the team, many expected Redick to call out Bronny whenever he has a poor game.

Bronny James struggled against the Warriors on Tuesday night

The expectations were high around Bronny James heading into the new season. Many believed that with LeBron moving to the Philadelphia 76ers, Bronny could play more freely without the spotlight.

Bronny James
Bronny James (Image credits – Yahoo Sports)

The Lakers have made several roster changes this summer. With a new-look squad, James Jr. is now one of the longest-serving players in the franchise.

While he got some heavy minutes off the bench in the preseason, he was in the spotlight Tuesday night when the Lakers took on the Warriors. He clocked 11 minutes in their 101-89 loss to the Dubs. James finished the night with zero points, zero assists, and just one rebound as he went 0-for-2 from the field.

It may be just preseason, but this is his chance to showcase his growth, as he has largely remained out of the rotation over the last two seasons. He signed a four-year, $7.9 million rookie contract in 2024.

As a result, the upcoming season could make or break his NBA career, since the 2027-28 campaign is a team option for the Lakers. James will have one final chance to make his case before the 2026-27 campaign begins, when the Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets in their final preseason game on October 16.

Also Read: