TITLE: Lakers Coaches and Teammates Highlight Bronny James’ Growth After Win in Indiana
SLUG: lakers-praise-bronny-james-vs-pacers
CONTENT:
INDIANAPOLIS — A comfortable cushion in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 112-97 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Mar. 25, 2026, opened the door for reserve guard Bronny James to log meaningful minutes, and his performance quickly drew praise throughout the locker room.
Productive cameo off the bench
Head coach JJ Redick inserted James early in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. In 13 minutes, the 21-year-old finished with four points, one rebound, one assist, two steals and one block. James also knocked down a late pull-up jumper that pushed Los Angeles’ lead from 13 to 15, a play multiple teammates cited as pivotal.
Redick sees steady progress
“He’s gotten significantly better,” Redick said during the Spectrum SportsNet broadcast. “Tonight felt like a game we really needed him. He had two excellent individual defensive possessions in the first half, and his confidence is growing every night.” The coach added that James has been “arguably the best player” in the organization’s stay-ready scrimmages over the past month while starring for the South Bay Lakers of the G League.
Veterans echo the sentiment
Luka Dončić noted the improvement he observed since training camp. “That pull-up two was probably one of the most important shots of the game,” the All-Star guard said. Austin Reaves agreed, calling the basket “one of the biggest shots of the night” and crediting James’ consistency in practice: “He doesn’t take shortcuts, keeps his head down and works.”
Center Jaxson Hayes highlighted the rookie’s athleticism on defense. “He got that rebound and dunk, had a bunch of deflections and was just stopping guys,” Hayes said.
Looking ahead
James’ role with the parent club remains limited while the guard rotation is healthy, but Redick and the veterans emphasized that his recent G League success and steady practice habits are translating when opportunities arise in NBA action.
Source: LakersNation.com
