Bronny James Gets Honest About Lakers Having LeBron James for Playoffs
The Los Angeles Lakers begin their NBA Playoffs journey in rough waters this weekend, as they’ll begin navigating a first-round series against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.
And while the Lakers host the series, they’ll be without key starters Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who suffered season-ending injuries. That means a more significant role for LeBron James, who previously was a third option when it came to the team’s scorers.
He’s already shown he can shoulder that load somewhat during the team’s final regular-season games. However, winning a series against a healthier and more talented Rockets squad could prove problematic without help.
That assistance will need to come from teammates stepping up, including Luke Kennard and Jake LaRavia in starting roles alongside Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton. Count LeBron’s son in, too, as Bronny James will need to contribute in his time on the court.
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Several days before Game 1, Bronny spoke to the media about the significance of having his dad on the team amid the Lakers’ rough situation. He praised his father’s leadership, citing his previous experience, including multiple playoff appearances and championships.
“He's won series, won Finals, I think we just need to have our mind open and ears open and listen to whatever he says because he knows the most. He's only saying that because he wants to win … We just got to listen to him,” Bronny told reporters on Thursday.
While speaking to reporters, LeBron also discussed how he cherished time on the court with his son, no matter the situation, calling it “the best thing that's ever happened to me in my career, above everything that I've accomplished.”
Those accomplishments are quite significant. Now 41, LeBron has set the bar high for superstars in the league, having achieved four NBA Championships in 23 years. He’s been to other Finals with unsuccessful results, but even those have brought lessons for his future playoff runs.
This postseason marks his 19th appearance in the NBA Playoffs, tying a record set by the Utah Jazz’s NBA legends John Stockton and Karl Malone.
The Lakers will need to find ways to win without two of their top scorers and playmakers, but still have LeBron. He clearly knows what it takes to win, whether he’s playing with a team at full strength or shorthanded.
It will be nothing short of amazing if he can get this available roster to pull off a major upset, as they’ll head into their matchup with the Rockets as serious underdogs. However, nobody would be overly shocked by that result after seeing the other amazing things LeBron’s accomplished in his career.
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 5:30 PM.