Bronny James Blocks Out the Noise, Zeros In on Year Two with Lakers
The young guard is focused on development, defense, and silencing doubts, not rumors; heading into Summer League and the 2025-26 season
No Distractions, Just Work
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Bronny James knows the spotlight is on him. As the son of LeBron James and a second-year Laker, the scrutiny is constant. But if he’s feeling the weight of expectations—or the rumors swirling around his father’s future—he isn’t showing it.
“I don’t really pay attention to that stuff,” Bronny said after a Summer League practice this week, flashing a grin. “There’s a lot of stuff going around that I don’t pay attention to.”
While speculation about LeBron’s long-term plans and the Lakers’ shifting roster intensifies, Bronny is tuning it out, locking in on his conditioning, role development, and mental fortitude as he enters a critical phase of his early NBA career.
A Summer of Growth
After a rookie season that included flashes of potential—most notably a 17-point outburst against the Bucks—Bronny returns to the Lakers’ Summer League roster more comfortable and more confident.
“Last year it was a crazy environment,” Bronny recalled. “I feel like this year I’ll be able to go out and play freely… I’m just really excited to be able to play nervous-free.”
That self-assurance comes not only from experience but also from physical progress. Bronny has slimmed down to 215 pounds, part of a focused effort on diet and conditioning aimed at sustaining energy over longer stretches on the court. His goal: to stay effective over 10-minute shifts without fatigue creeping in.
That’s particularly important for a player determined to make his mark on the defensive end.
Defense First, Spotlight Later
Bronny is clear-eyed about his current role and potential path to meaningful minutes: defense, hustle, and intensity.
“There’s going to be guys that can go out and score 15, 20 a game,” he said. “I’m most likely not going to be that guy right now… but to get myself on the floor, I have to be a defensive menace.”
It’s a mature approach from a player who knows his offensive flashes are still secondary to the foundational habits that earn trust in the NBA. It’s also a necessity, considering the Lakers’ win-now posture and the high standards set by his Hall of Fame father.
Speaking of LeBron, Bronny says their relationship stays grounded—even when rumors swirl.
“We don’t really talk about [speculation] much,” Bronny said. “He just tells me to not worry about it… just lock in to what you have going on right now.”
That advice seems to be sticking.
Blocking Out the Noise
While the Lakers made headlines this week by reportedly signing center Deandre Ayton and as talk continues about building around stars like Luka Dončić in the post-LeBron era, Bronny remains singular in focus. His path won’t be shaped by hype, headlines, or heritage—but by how hard he works between the lines.
“I think that side of confidence just comes with time,” he said. “Coming in every day and pushing myself even more than I did the last day—that’s really good for me.”
Bronny won’t suit up alongside fellow prospect Adou Thiero this summer due to the rookie’s lingering knee recovery, but that doesn’t change his mindset. His game plan is simple: stay grounded, stay in shape, stay defending, and let the rest take care of itself.
