Lakers Announce Bronny James Move After Pacers Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Mar 26, 2026 4:49 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are gaining serious momentum ahead of the NBA playoffs. The team has won 10 of its last 11 games and is pushing to secure the third seed in the Western Conference.

Now in his second NBA season after being selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny James is still unlikely to crack the rotation once the postseason arrives. Even so, he has shown clear signs of improvement at the NBA level.

Through 33 games, James has averaged 2.1 points, 0.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists, but the encouraging part has been his efficiency. He is shooting 40.3% from the field and 40.0% from deep, both notable jumps from his rookie year.

The 21-year-old shooting guard still has time to develop, and continued progress could earn him more opportunities.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9).Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

On Wednesday, during Los Angeles win over the Indiana Pacers, James took advantage of one of those opportunities. With multiple rotation players sidelined, including Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart, James earned meaningful minutes outside of garbage time.

He logged 13 minutes, went 2-of-4 from the field, knocked down a 3-pointer, added a dunk, grabbed a rebound, an assist, recorded two steals and blocked a shot. His contributions helped the Lakers secure a 137‑130 victory.

With the Lakers set to face the Brooklyn Nets on Friday and hopeful to get some of their missing pieces back, the team announced that James, along with Kobe Bufkin and Dalton Knecht, had been assigned to the South Bay Lakers (h/t Ryan Ward of Lakers On SI).

This move is significant because it allows all three players to get extended reps rather than sitting on the bench once the Lakers rotation tightens again.

The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned guards Kobe Bufkin, Bronny James Jr. and Dalton Knecht to the South Bay Lakers.
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) March 26, 2026

It also signals that the organization wants James to continue building confidence in a featured role rather than playing sporadic minutes in the NBA.

James has been a strong performer in the G League this season, averaging 15.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 54.6% from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc across 12 appearances.

As the Lakers gear up for a postseason run, James development remains a long‑term priority, and his steady growth this year has only strengthened the organization’s belief in his future.

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

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