Bronny James' preseason struggles raise questions about Lakers roster spot

Bronny James went scoreless with four turnovers in the Lakers' 101-89 preseason loss to the Warriors on Tuesday, giving him more turnovers (12) than points (11) through four games and intensifying criticism of his NBA roster spot. The 22-year-old guard is averaging 2.8 points on 26.7% shooting in 17.5 minutes per game, drawing harsh reactions from fans and analysts who question his readiness for the league. Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged James has not played well but cited rhythm and lineup context as factors. James enters his third season without father LeBron as a teammate, with his $2.3 million salary fully guaranteed for 2026-27. The Lakers must trim their roster to 15 players by Monday, and James' next chance comes Friday against the Nuggets.