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HOUSTON — For Lakers coach JJ Redick, the highlight of Bronny James’ debut NBA playoff points wasn’t merely the shot itself, but the confidence it showcased. During Game 3 against the Rockets, James confidently sank a pull-up three-pointer, extending the Lakers’ lead to 50-40 midway through the second quarter.
The significance of this moment lay in James’ ability to overcome any pre-game jitters he may have felt ahead of the first-round playoff series, displaying the assurance needed to attempt such a shot.
“Without Luka [Doncic] and Austin Reaves, we can’t afford to pass up on shots and opportunities created,” Redick explained. “Bronny handled himself well offensively during that period. While making shots certainly boosts confidence, his defensive performance during that stretch was equally impressive. He’s shown significant growth since earlier in the season when he began receiving rotation minutes.”
Drafted as the 55th overall pick in 2024, James, the younger son of Lakers legend LeBron James, got a front-row seat to the playoffs last year.
However, with just four minutes of play spread across two games during the Lakers’ first-round exit against the Timberwolves last spring, he didn’t fully experience the intensity of playoff basketball until now.
That changed this season, with the younger James being in the Lakers’ rotation during the postseason entering Sunday’s Game 4 at Toyota Center.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Bronny said. “I mean, in college I didn’t get to play in March, so that’s something that’s gonna irk me for the rest of my life. And got to do it in the playoffs, and that’s just the best feeling.”
Bronny admitted to being nervous before his first playoff game.
“I definitely think I’ve gained a little more confidence and relaxed myself … Looking forward to down the road, me getting more minutes and stuff like that. I feel like just me getting playoff time, second stints and stuff like that is just gonna help more and more.”
James’ first playing stint resulted not only in his first playoff points but also his second.
LeBron threw an alley-oop to Bronny for a reverse layup on the Lakers’ next possession in the second quarter of Game 3, which was the first father-to-son assist in NBA playoffs history.
“I’m not sure when was the last time I got an oop from him,” Bronny said. “Probably in training camp last year, maybe this year. But it was just one of those things; he saw me and saw that I was making eye contact with him, so he threw it up and I can always go get it.”
Bronny’s first stint impressed the Lakers’ coaching staff so much that he played a second stint for the first time during the playoffs against the Rockets in Game 3 after being limited to one stint in Game 1 and Game 2.
“It just says a lot about me and JJ’s relationship, the other coaches in the coaching staff,” Bronny said. “They believe in me. And I appreciate that. And I’m going to take advantage of every minute I get.”
Bronny got regular playing time to close the regular season while Marcus Smart was sidelined for nine games because of an ankle injury before being cemented in the rotation when Doncic (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique) were sidelined to close the regular season.
“He has just gotten a lot better defensively,” Redick said. “His physicality’s been really good. His execution’s been really good and excited for him and just we got to continue to build him up. He’s obviously really important right now.”