Will Bronny James start for the Lakers? How Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic injuries impacts LeBron James’ son’s playing time initially appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Lakers are in disaster, having seen two of its biggest skills — Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — land in the remedy room with injuries to their hamstring and indirect, respectively.
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There’s by no means a superb time for injuries. But Doncic and Reaves’ illnesses are particularly premature at this time of the yr for a Los Angeles roster that hoped to contend for a Western Conference Finals look — if no more.
With Doncic and Reaves out of fee, Lakers head coach JJ Redick should get inventive. How does one exchange their stage of manufacturing in-house? Some have queried that Redick may flip to a well-known title to assist Los Angeles get again on monitor: Bronny James.
With that, this is how Doncic and Reaves’ injuries may have an effect on James’ minutes.
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Will Bronny James start for Lakers?
With Reaves and Doncic wrapped in gauze, the query stays: will James ascend to the beginning lineup in the coming few weeks?
As of April 5, James has two begins in his illustrious profession. He stands to see more and more extra minutes with Reaves, Doncic and Smart sidelined. That may not be mirrored in his start totals, nonetheless.
The Lakers maintain only a half recreation benefit over the Nuggets for third-place in the Western Conference. They have not proven a want to provide James alternatives for a lot of his two-year profession. It’s arduous to think about they will present sufficient religion to supply him begins in the stretch run.
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Expect Redick to place the ball in LeBron James’ arms with Doncic and Reaves away. Luke Kennard will seemingly slot into the two-guard spot, whereas Rui Hachimura figures to rise to the beginning 5 in Doncic’s absence. Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton are more likely to spherical out the beginning 5.
MORE: How Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury impacts Lakers playoff picture
How many video games has Bronny James began?
As of April 2, James has tallied simply two begins in his profession. He began the last recreation of the 2024-25 season. He additionally landed a start in the Lakers’ Nov. 15 duel with the Bucks. He performed simply 10 minutes in that contest, so a start would not essentially imply James will get starter minutes.
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Lakers guard depth chart
Kennard is the likeliest guard to leap into the beginning lineup as the season nears its crescendo. Smart, too, ought to earn some shine — notably as soon as he returns from his ankle damage.
PG | SG |
Luke Kennard | Marcus Smart – OUT |
Bronny James | Luke Kennard |
Kobe Bufkin | Jake LaRavia |
Marcus Smart – OUT | Dalton Knecht |
Nick Smith Jr. | Bronny James |
MORE:What did LeBron James say about the city of Memphis?
Bronny James season stats
Here’s a have a look at James’ numbers in his second season in Tinseltown.
39.1 p.c discipline aim capturing
37.5 p.c 3-point capturing
85.7 p.c free throw capturing
