Bronny James makes his case with extra work as he battles to keep his Lakers spot

For many, now more than ever, Bronny James has the perfect opportunity to prove that he deserves a place on the Lakers roster with his father no longer part of the organization. ​ ​Since Bronny arrived in Los Angeles, fans and media have repeatedly questioned whether his place on one of the NBA’s biggest franchises was earned through his talent or simply because he is LeBron James’ son. His seasons have not been particularly outstanding, giving more fuel to those discussions.

Bronny is focused on making his own case

The comments have been relentless, but Bronny wants to show that his place with the Lakers can be earned on his own merits . The young guard is a talented athlete, and while the pressure surrounding his situation has followed him, he is now showing signs of the work and effort needed to make an impression.

A video from the Lakers’ first day of training offered another look at that approach. James turned heads with his defensive intensity and shooting accuracy , while additional footage showed him going after his teammates with plenty of effort on defense . He was also the last player to leave the Lakers’ El Segundo facility after practice.

The Lakers still have a decision to make

If James continues to impress during training camp, he is likely to make the final Lakers roster for the 2026-27 season. There had already been speculation that the Lakers could waive one of Bronny, Jaden Hardy or Dalton Knecht as they look to trim the roster from 16 players to 15.

The Lakers are expected to make their final roster decision at some point during the preseason , leaving Bronny with an opportunity to continue making his case before that call is made.

He also made it clear on Media Day that he wants to step out of his father’s shadow. With LeBron no longer beside him in the Lakers locker room , Bronny now has the chance to show what he can do without his dad as his teammate.