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Bronny James is under serious pressure to earn a place in the Lakers’ rotation and convince the team to keep him beyond next season. Now that his father is no longer on the team, he is on his own. But that could help him grow even more, without the pressure of having LeBron by his side.
His preseason numbers have drawn criticism, but Craig Carton went further: He urged Bronny to leave professional basketball and find another career.
Bronny James stays late at Lakers practice as he fights to keep his roster spot
“The Bronny James NBA experiment is over,” the radio host said on The Craig Carton Show. Among his suggestions, Carton said Bronny could start a tech company, open a bar or create his own beverage. He also questioned whether LeBron put his legacy ahead of his son’s development by helping him reach the NBA.
The criticism came after Bronny scored just 11 points in four preseason games, shooting 26.7% from the field and making one of seven shots from 3-point range. In nearly 70 minutes, he had 13 assists but also committed 12 turnovers.
Carton’s criticism went further than Redick’s words
Bronny’s game against Golden State summed up his struggles: He played 11 minutes, missed both of his shots, had one rebound and one steal, and committed four turnovers. Carton argued that the performance showed the guard was not ready to play in the NBA.
To support his point, the radio host attributed a harsher criticism to JJ Redick, making it sound as if the coach had said Bronny embarrassed himself and was not an NBA player. Redick did not use those words.
After the game, he said LeBron’s son had not played well in the four preseason games, but also noted that Bronny had practiced well and had played some of his minutes alongside two-way players, a combination that, in his view, may not have set him up for success.
Redick offered some justification, saying he hoped to see Bronny at his best later on or at least that is what he hopes.
The coach also said Bronny had a good summer and a positive September. His assessment was critical, but he added context about the rhythm of the games and the teammates Bronny played with. Preseason is also a time to test lineups and roles that can change once the regular season begins.
The contract situation adds pressure, too. The Lakers guaranteed Bronny’s salary for the 2026-27 season, but the final year of his contract, in 2027-28, depends on a team option. Los Angeles will have to decide next summer whether to exercise it.
This will be Bronny’s first NBA season without playing on the same team as his father. LeBron James left the Lakers and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers to begin his 24th season in the league, while Bronny has said he wants to build his own path as he starts his third season with the Lakers.
Now, his performances have the freedom and the responsibility to shine and show who he is. The preseason numbers are concerning, but they do not determine on their own how he will develop during the year.