As training camp and the 2026-27 NBA season slowly approach, it is time to start taking a look at what each member of the Los Angeles Lakers should be working on this summer and how each of them can help the team be as successful as it can be.
Therefore, LeBron Wire is outlining three goals for each Lakers player this coming season. Here is a look at Bronny James, who remains on the team's roster even though his famous father left to join the Philadelphia 76ers.
He's going into his third pro season, and this will be an opportunity for him to truly prove that he belongs if he accomplishes these three goals.
Improve defensively
For James to stick around in the NBA, he will have to truly stand out in at least one facet of the game. He said last summer that he was focusing
on the defensive end, but he still has a long way to go before he can be considered a true plus defender.
But it isn't because of a lack of effort, and it isn't because he lacks the tools. While James is undersized at 6-foot-2, he weighs 210 pounds, has a wingspan of 6-foot-7 and recorded a 40.5-inch vertical jump during the NBA scouting combine two years ago.
He seems to have the ability to become a viable point-of-attack defender. He will have to make a noticeable impact in that category.
Be more aggressive off the dribble
James improved his 3-point shooting last season to 38.6% from 28.1%, which is what he shot from that distance as a rookie. While he did well last season in catch-and-shoot situations, he needs to provide a little more offense off the dribble.
It is a good thing that James looks to play within the context of his team's offensive scheme. However, he seems a bit too passive at times, a bit too willing to defer to his teammates. His best path toward NBA success is becoming a two-way player, and if he becomes the type of player who is not just a plus defender and a good 3-point shooter but also a bit of a spark plug offensively, it would greatly help his chances of getting playing time.
Improve as a facilitator
James isn't a natural facilitator or point guard, but it would help if he improved his ability to at least be a "connector" player in terms of making good passes. He did show a couple of short flashes of being able to do just that late last season.
One thing he could do more of is push the ball in transition and force the issue. Doing that while also looking for his own shot more in transition would make him a more dangerous player.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers player goals for 2026-27 season: Bronny James
