Bronny James sets career-highs in blowout Lakers loss

The silver lining of the Lakers' 118-89 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks was that James, the 2024 second-round pick who has spent most of his playing time in the G League, got to play meaningful NBA minutes. 

Not all minutes were competitive, but the Bucks' lead was only single digits midway through the third quarter, even though it rose to as many as 35 points later.

Bronny James set career-highs in nearly every category. He played 30 minutes and almost doubled his career-high in points from nine to 17 while delivering five assists and grabbing three rebounds.

It was the absence of four starters — Bronny's father, LeBron, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, as well as reserves Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt — that gave James the extended opportunity. He shot 7-for-10 and made a 3-point shot. The 20-year-old looked more like a legitimate NBA player than ever before.

It wasn't great for his team, though. In those 30 minutes, the Bucks outscored the Lakers by 36 points. The undermanned Lakers were even worse in Shake Milton's 23 minutes (-37). Playing at home without their star players and most of their rotation out, the Lakers wouldn't beat Giannis Antetokounmpo.

No one expects Bronny James to contribute to winning basketball this season after barely playing in his one college season at USC. However, fans saw a career night with their most popular young player on an otherwise forgettable night in Los Angeles.