The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a 112-108 overtime win over the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. While the result itself was important, most of the attention after the game shifted towards Bronny James.
His performance sparked conversations across the basketball world, and Lakers head coach JJ Redick added to that buzz by sharing a past conversation he had with LeBron James about his son shortly after he was drafted.
JJ Redick’s Bronny James Revelation After Game 3
During a postgame interview, Redick revealed that James had one clear request when Bronny entered the league in 2024.
According to the coach, LeBron didn’t want any shortcuts or special treatment for his son. He wanted Bronny to earn everything the hard way and prove himself like any other player.
“When we drafted Bronny, Bron and I had one conversation very early on that I was going to coach Bronny. I was not going to coach LeBron’s son. And differentiating that… that’s what he wanted,” Redick said after the game.
Since being drafted, Bronny has faced heavy criticism from fans who questioned whether he deserved his spot in the NBA. But on April 24, he gave a small but meaningful response on the court.
In Game 3, Bronny made the most of his limited minutes. He played just nine minutes but used that time well. He knocked down a pull-up three-pointer after receiving a clean pass from his father. That marked his first playoff points.
Soon after, he finished a layup off another assist from James. He ended the game with 5 points on perfect shooting, going 2-for-2 from the field, while also playing strong defense. His efforts contributed to the tight overtime win. That moment also made history, as James and Bronny became the first father-son duo to connect on an alley-oop in an NBA playoff game (after previously becoming the first father-soon duo to share the court in a postseason game).
After the game, Redick also pointed to the team’s calm approach as a key reason for the win.
“(In) the first road playoff game … you have to elevate your poise… You have to elevate your composure … We weathered a lot of turnovers … You just got to get on to the next play. That, to me, is a hallmark of poise. That’s a hallmark of composure,” Redick said after the game.
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The Lakers made their first seven shots, and at one point were 11-for-16 from the field and 6-for-8 on threes. They were up by seven after the first quarter and stretched the lead to 11 points by halftime. The second half got messy, and Houston clawed their way back. With less than a minute left in regulation, the Rockets led by six, and the game looked done.
However, a Reed Sheppard turnover led to a LeBron three-pointer with 13.6 seconds left, tying the game at 101. In overtime, Marcus Smart scored eight of the Lakers’ 11 overtime points, including a corner three to start the period and an offensive rebound that led to two free throws, turning a one-possession game into a two-possession cushion. The Lakers eventually won.
James finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and a block, whereas Smart finished with 21 points and 10 assists. With this win, the Lakers now shift their focus to closing out the series in Game 4, which is scheduled for April 26.
