The Los Angeles Lakers have recalled Bronny James from the G League following a career-best performance to join the team on their six-game East Coast road trip, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. The move comes as the Lakers look to bolster their depth after backup point guard Gabe Vincent suffered a knee injury.
Vincent, who missed the Lakers’ 112-107 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, is dealing with the effects of a knee collision. Lakers head coach JJ Redick expressed optimism about Vincent’s return during the trip, as reported by Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell.
Bronny is expected to join the Lakers in time for their Tuesday (Jan. 28) matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bronny James’ Career-Best Performance
Bronny, the eldest son of LeBron James, recently delivered a standout performance, scoring a career-high 31 points in the South Bay Lakers’ 122-110 comeback victory over Rip City on Jan. 24 at the UCLA Health Training Center. He shot 10-of-22 from the field, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, and contributed three assists, two rebounds, two steals, and just one turnover in 35 minutes of play.
A pivotal moment came late in the third quarter when Bronny threw down a poster dunk to tie the game at 80, sparking a 9-4 run that helped South Bay close the quarter with momentum. He scored 25 of his 31 points in the second half, leading the team to overcome a nine-point first-half deficit.
This game marked Bronny’s first G League appearance since Dec. 21 and surpassed his previous career-high of 30 points, set during a road loss to Phoenix on Dec. 2, 2024.
Initially, Bronny was set to play South Bay’s upcoming home game against the Texas Legends on Jan. 29. However, Vincent’s injury prompted a change in plans, calling him up to the Lakers.
Following a cardiac arrest scare before his one-and-done season at USC, Bronny is grateful to be playing again. “I am having fun,” Bronny said after South Bay’s second win of the regular season. “Any time I’m playing basketball, any time I’m out here breathing, any time I’m out here walking… I’m grateful for everything.”
In seven G League games, Bronny is averaging 13.4 points, 3.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals. Over his last two outings, he’s posted impressive averages of 27.0 points on 47.2% shooting overall, 50% from three, and 88.8% from the line, along with 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in 33 minutes per game.
Bronny James Building Confidence
Selected 55th overall in last year’s NBA draft, Bronny has faced intense scrutiny as a second-round pick due to his father’s legacy and a challenging freshman year at USC. However, he is steadily rediscovering the form that earned him McDonald’s All-American honors in high school.
“I’m just trying to get my confidence back,” Bronny said. “That’s all. I’m just gonna go out, play my game, learn from every game. While I’m not playing in the G League, [I’ll] learn from the Lakers, learn from my vets, and just keep trying to be myself. It’s been working recently, and I’m happy with the results right now.”
During this road trip, Bronny will have more opportunities to learn from Lakers veterans and may even see some playing time against the injury-depleted 76ers. According to the latest NBA injury report, Philadelphia will be without Joel Embiid, Paul George, standout rookie Jared McCain, backup center Andre Drummond, and forwards Caleb Martin and KJ Martin (no relation).
