Lakers Announce Final Decision on Bronny James for 3rd NBA Season

Bronny James entered his third NBA season with a lot of questions about his future with the Los Angeles Lakers. His preseason performances did little to settle those concerns, as inconsistent shooting and turnovers became a recurring theme for the 22-year-old.

Across four preseason games, James scored just 11 points in nearly 70 minutes, shooting 26.7% from the field and 1-of-7 from three-point range. He recorded 13 assists but committed 12 turnovers, including four in a scoreless outing against the Golden State Warriors. His struggles creating offense and protecting the ball raised questions about how much he could contribute this season.

With the Lakers needing to trim their roster to 15 players, the front office faced a decision: trade or waive either James or Dalton Knecht.

On Monday, the Lakers made their choice clear when they announced their final roster for the 2026-27 season. James made the list, with the team waiving Knecht.

James and Knecht were both selected by Los Angeles in the 2024 NBA Draft. Knecht went 17th overall after starring at Tennessee, while James was picked 55th after playing at USC. Knecht showed promise as a shooter during his rookie season but struggled to maintain a consistent role, while James remains a developmental guard.

Updated Lakers roster, per the team: pic.twitter.com/cP3pJhKAUE

James still has to prove he can contribute consistently. Head coach JJ Redick acknowledged his preseason struggles, although he noted that James had performed better in practice.

The Lakers open their regular season Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors. James has secured his roster spot, but earning a consistent role will be his next challenge.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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