Lakers Announce Major Bronny James Decision Before Clippers Game

Nov 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) reacts after the game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ahead of their third Emirates NBA Cup game of the season, against the seemingly doomed LA Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers have made a new decision on the fate of Bronny James.

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Per Lakers insider Lauren Jones, Los Angeles has opted to recall second-year guard James and rookie forward Adou Thiero from the club's G League affiliate in El Segundo, the South Bay Lakers, after two games.

The Lakers have recalled guard Bronny James Jr. and forward Adou Thiero from the South Bay Lakers. #Lakeshow

— LoJo Media (@LoJoMedia) November 25, 2025

James, eldest son of 21-time All-NBA Lakers power forward LeBron James, posted averages of 11.0 points while slashing .381/.231/.667, plus 8.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per.

Selected with the No. 55 pick out of USC in the 2024 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-2 combo guard was signed to a fully-guaranteed four-year standard deal — fairly unusual for a late second-round draft pick, but understandable as a bit of a sweetheart agreement to placate a superstar.

As a four-star recruit out of high school, James was projected to be a defensive off-ball prospect in the pros. He has shown flashes on that end of the court, but has yet to carve out a consistent rotation role with Los Angeles through parts of two seasons.

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Through 10 games with the Lakers proper this season (one start), James has been averaging 2.1 points on .296/.273/1.000 shooting splits, 1.8 assists, 0.9 rebounds and 0.8 steals per.

Thiero, meanwhile, just returned to basketball action recently after recovering from a college knee injury. Through two NBA games, the 6-foot-6 Arkansas product has been averaging 3.0 points and 0.5 rebounds per. He, too, is not yet a part of head coach JJ Redick's rotation.

JJ Redick's Shifting Rotation Choices

As the season has gone on for the 12-4 Lakers and the team continues to get healthier (this side of Deandre Ayton's knee contusion, suffered in LA's 108-106 Sunday victory against the Utah Jazz), Redick appears to be settling in to his chosen rotation. For now, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Ayton comprise Redick's starting five. His preferred bench rotation is looking like new free agent signings Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, guard Gabe Vincent, and big men Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber.

Forward Jarred Vanderbilt and second-year wing Dalton Knecht, along with Bronny James, did get some spot minutes when other players were absent, but have fallen out of Redick's lineups now. With Ayton out, it's possible Vanderbilt at least will get some run. Thiero has some interesting athletic upside, so perhaps he'll get a look eventually.

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