Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bronny James Receives Good News After Lakers’ Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sami Haider | Last updated Mar 15, 2026 11:25 AM ET

Two seasons in, Bronny James still hasn't cracked the Lakers' NBA rotation. In his second year with Los Angeles, he's averaging just 2.1 points in 7 minutes per game, which is nearly identical to his rookie season. With a deep backcourt around him, he hasn't shown the required consistency yet, though his shooting has improved to 39.7% from the field and 41.4% from deep.

But the G League, it's a completely different story. Since being assigned to South Bay, Bronny has been far more productive, averaging 15.3 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.8 rebounds.

While his raw scoring volume is down from the 21.9 PPG he averaged in the G League last season, his efficiency has soared to 54.6% from the field, 42.1% from three, and 90.9% from the free-throw line.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9)Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

His growth was on full display on Friday night against the Iowa Wolves. Bronny dropped 13 points, two assists, and two blocks to help secure a 125–106 South Bay win. It marked a franchise-record 11th consecutive victory for South Bay and improved their record to 11-0 in games where Bronny has played this season.

After their new franchise record, the NBA G League confirmed that Bronny, Drew Timme, and South Bay have officially clinched playoff spots for 2026.

Official NBA G League's X handle announced, "Bronny James, Drew Timme, and the red hot South Bay Lakers have secured their spot in the 2026 G League Playoffs presented by Google."

Bronny James, Drew Timme, and the red hot @southbaylakers have secured their spot in the 2026 G League Playoffs presented by @google! pic.twitter.com/XqPoHRWV7U
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) March 15, 2026

Before the good news, the Lakers recalled Bronny on Saturday to provide extra depth for their game against the Denver Nuggets. As expected, he did not play and finished with zero minutes.

However, the Lakers still escaped with a thrilling 127–125 victory against the Denver Nuggets. Luka Doncic led the way with a triple-double, helping Los Angeles clinch the season series against Denver.

Their next game is against the Houston Rockets on Monday with tip-off scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.

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

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