The Los Angeles Lakers have exceeded expectations to start the 2025-26 season, winning seven of their first nine games despite LeBron James being sidelined. With the team performing so well, one can only wonder how good they can be once James returns. While everything seems to be going right for the Lakers, many are still closely watching the integration of Bronny James.
Though some have criticized him, head coach JJ Redick and the coaching staff have been focused on developing him into a rotational player. Amidst his early struggles, Bronny revealed the key advice Redick has given him.
What Did JJ Redick Tell the Lakers Sophomore?
While speaking with reporters, Bronny shared the message he received from Redick despite his issues to start the season.
“I feel like I did a great job getting in shape in the summer getting into shape and stuff like that and JJ has told me that I’m playing as hard as I can right now so I’m gonna keep on doing that,” Bronny said, per So Cal News Group’s Khobi Price.
Bronny James mentioned he’s been focused on “going out, giving all effort. Literally going out until I’m dead tired,” when he’s on the court.
Said he feels his conditioning is “way better” compared to last season. JJ Redick’s told Bronny that he’s playing as hard as he can now. pic.twitter.com/tnR5uIQcdg
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) November 8, 2025
On the surface, Bronny’s traditional statistics are far from impressive. He is averaging just 1.5 points, 1.8 assists, and 0.8 rebounds while shooting 21.4% from the field and 25% from three-point range. To be blunt, those are putrid numbers for any rotation player.
However, there is evidence to suggest that the Lakers benefit from having him on the court, as his defense has proven to be legitimately good. While he is not providing much offensively, he is definitely holding his own on the defensive end. It is clear that on one side of the floor, Bronny is giving the Lakers value, and it is just as clear what he needs to improve on going forward.
Ultimately, teams with championship aspirations like the Lakers need players who can contribute on both ends of the floor. It is great to have players who can defend the way Bronny can, but they cannot be a net negative on offense if they want to see meaningful minutes on a contender.
As the season progresses, the Lakers should give Bronny more opportunities to find his rhythm. Ironically, though, his chances may become limited if, or when, the team starts giving his minutes to his father.
