Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green publicly praised Bronny James for his recent contributions to the Los Angeles Lakers during the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
On the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show,” released after the Lakers’ 106-97 loss to the Houston Rockets on April 26 at Toyota Center, Green highlighted the second-year guard’s ability to handle unexpected postseason responsibilities. “Shout out to Bronny,” Green said. “He’s been the 13th or 15th man all year and he’s playing great playoff minutes… All the haters, keep hating. I love to see it.”
Selected 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, James had logged just 31 total minutes in the series before Game 3. His role expanded significantly in Games 3 and 4 as head coach JJ Redick compensated for injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. In Game 3, James and his father, LeBron James, combined for 10 unanswered points, capped by a father-to-son alley-oop that fueled a key Lakers run.
Redick said the team is still adjusting without its two leading scorers. “It’s obviously very challenging without your two leading scorers to generate offense,” the coach noted. He pointed to turnovers and limited downhill creation as primary concerns against a Rockets defense that ranked in the league’s top 10 throughout the regular season.
James is not expected to shoulder a major scoring load, but his steady play off the bench underscores the progress he has made amid persistent scrutiny regarding his path to the NBA. Late-second-round picks rarely see meaningful playoff minutes in their second season, giving his current role added significance for Los Angeles.
Source: Lakers Nation
