TITLE: Bronny James Prioritizes On-Ball Skills Following 2025 Summer League
SLUG: bronny-james-on-ball-skills-focus-summer-league-2025
CONTENT:
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James left Las Vegas determined to sharpen his ball-handling and playmaking after completing the 2025 NBA Summer League.
James, 20, missed the opening contest of the California Classic because of a heart condition and a subsequent illness, limiting his early minutes. As the exhibition schedule progressed, the rookie gradually increased his workload and entered the Las Vegas phase with near-normal playing time.
During the July games at the Thomas & Mack Center, the 6-foot-2 guard displayed improved confidence attacking the rim and connected on several jump shots. In response, the Lakers coaching staff expanded his responsibilities, placing him on the ball for extended stretches. The experiment produced mixed results, highlighted by a noticeable jump in turnovers.
James outlines offseason plan
After the final Summer League appearance on July 14, James said additional reps as a primary ball-handler top his development checklist.
“If I’m consistently confident in bringing the ball up, knowing my role and being able to play the 1 when it’s needed, I think I’ll be good,” he told Lakers.com reporter Mike Trudell. “I don’t really have any problem playing off the ball if I need to, so just getting those reps over and over again of me having the ball in my hand most of the time is really good for my development.”
Coaches view James as an undersized combo guard who excels as a secondary playmaker and slasher. His late-season surge with the South Bay Lakers came after he assumed more on-ball duties, fueling optimism that he can eventually handle lead-guard responsibilities in the NBA.
Path to regular minutes still unclear
A crowded Los Angeles roster could complicate James’s bid to join head coach JJ Redick’s regular rotation, though assistant coach Nate McMillan has publicly predicted the rookie will see floor time during the 2025-26 campaign.
James’s most significant NBA action to date occurred on March 2025 in Milwaukee, where injuries opened the door for 17 points, five assists and three rebounds against the Bucks. He later called that performance the highlight of his first professional season.
For now, James plans to spend the remainder of the offseason refining his dribble creation and decision-making, confident that stronger on-ball skills will allow the rest of his game to “flow.”
Source: Lakers Nation
