Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James immediately captured attention during his 2025 NBA Summer League debut on Sunday. Within the opening 30 seconds against the Miami Heat, he produced a highlight-reel moment with a spectacular steal and subsequent slam dunk. James, who was a second-round draft pick by the Lakers in 2024 and is the son of LeBron James, was making his first appearance in the Summer League`s California Classic after missing Saturday`s initial game against the Golden State Warriors.
Capitalizing quickly on an opportunity, James successfully stole the ball from Miami Heat first-round selection Kasparas Jakucionis. He then rapidly advanced up the court, culminating the play with a powerful one-handed slam dunk that registered the game`s very first points.
James concluded the first half with 10 points but did not return for the second half, playing a total of just 11 minutes. His scoring included six points from a pair of successful three-pointers, contributing to the Lakers` 103-83 victory.
Throughout his rookie season, the younger James primarily developed his skills in the G League with the South Bay Lakers. There, he posted averages of 21.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 44%. He also saw action in 27 NBA games as a teammate to his father.
His playing time during his initial NBA year was limited, averaging only 6.7 minutes per contest. His most significant offensive performance was a 17-point, five-assist effort on 7-of-10 shooting during a blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jasper Hawthorne