Bronny James is currently contending with a bruised left heel, which has placed him on the doubtful list for the Los Angeles Lakers’ upcoming matchup against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
This injury was not disclosed by the Lakers prior to Monday’s injury report, catching fans and analysts off guard regarding the 20-year-old son of NBA superstar LeBron James.
Since the South Bay Lakers’ season kicked off earlier this month, Bronny has been actively participating with both the Lakers and their G League affiliate. He has accumulated 16 minutes of playing time and scored four points across five NBA games, while also logging significant minutes in two G League contests.
In a recent game against Stockton, Bronny started and played 25 minutes, scoring four points on 2-for-10 shooting. Just a week prior, he managed to score six points in South Bay’s season opener, with both of his parents cheering him on from the stands at the Lakers’ training facility.
Last month, LeBron and Bronny made history as the first father-son duo to play in the NBA simultaneously, a remarkable feat that has captured the attention of basketball fans everywhere. However, Bronny’s court time has primarily been limited to the closing moments of games that have already been decided.
The Lakers, boasting a record of 9-4, have enjoyed a strong start to the season, highlighted by a five-game winning streak and an impressive 6-0 record at home. LeBron has been exceptional in his 22nd NBA season, achieving four consecutive triple-doubles before the streak came to an end during the Lakers’ victory over New Orleans last Saturday.
In addition to Bronny’s injury concerns, the Lakers may also be without starting forward Rui Hachimura, who is dealing with an ankle issue and has missed the last two games.
Hachimura did not participate in practice on Monday, but coach JJ Redick mentioned that “he’s making a lot of progress.” The team remains hopeful that he will return to practice during their current three-game homestand.
