It wasn't a fun night for Bronny James.
The Lakers faced the Spurs in the final night of the "California Classic," a Summer League tournament for rookies and players battling for roster spots.
It was a thrilling game that Los Angeles won 89-88. The Lakers came back in the fourth quarter thanks to inspiring performances from Dalton Knecht (25 points, 8 rebounds) and Darius Bazley (27 points, 13 rebounds).
But the story gaining the most traction on social media was the poor performance from Bronny James.
The Lakers' guard turned in two points (1-5 FG) and three turnovers in 15 minutes of game action. The highlights were uglier than the box score.
James had two separate airballs, one on an open three and another on an easy layup at the rim. Early in the game, the Lakers' guard drove into the lane for what looked like a routine bucket but he bounced the ball off his leg and turned it over.
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) July 9, 2025Bronny's performance could be taken a couple different ways.
On one hand, it could be a one-off Summer League dud. James had good performances with the South Bay Lakers and even notched 17 points in an NBA game versus the Bucks in March. He's proven he can have standout games.
On the other hand, the Lakers have made roster changes in the offseason. They signed Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton. Players like Knecht and Bazley are standing out while Bronny is shrinking. This performance could show whose stock is rising and whose is falling in Los Angeles.
This also comes as Lebron James opted in to his $52.6 million player option, putting his long-term future with the Lakers in jeopardy.
Bronny's pedestrian showing isn't a nail in the coffin for his career in Los Angeles, but it's not a good sign in his pursuit of a roster spot this season.
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