Bronny James just wrapped his rookie season in the NBA — and the numbers weren’t kind. But while his on-court production was minimal, his earnings and exposure were anything but.
A Mixed Rookie Campaign
Bronny James made his first NBA start in the Lakers’ regular-season finale, logging 38 minutes in a 109–81 loss to Portland. He finished with 4 points on 2-of-10 shooting, 6 assists, 3 turnovers, and 4 steals — a performance that mirrored the challenges of his rookie season.
Across 26 games, he averaged 2.2 points per game on 33.3% shooting, ranking among the league’s lowest in efficiency. But while his NBA numbers were modest, his G League stint told a different story.
In 11 regular-season games with the South Bay Lakers, Bronny put up 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. His breakout came on March 24, when he exploded for 39 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals in a win over Santa Cruz — flashing the upside that continues to intrigue Lakers coaches.
A $10 Million Year
Despite being the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $7.9 million deal with the Lakers — a rare contract structure for a late second-rounder.
Before ever playing an NBA minute, he had already amassed an estimated $5 million net worth thanks to NIL deals with Nike, Beats by Dre, Taco Bell, Panini, and more.
According to Forbes, Bronny’s total net worth now sits around $10 million — making him one of the most financially successful rookies in league history, despite statistically being one of the least productive.
Redick Believes. Bronny Keeps Working.
Despite the criticism, Lakers head coach JJ Redick gave Bronny high marks for his maturity and resilience.
“I give him an A+,” Redick said. “He doesn’t even break character. He’s the same guy every day… Doesn’t let the good attention get to him. Doesn’t let the bad attention get to him. He just continues to work.”
Bronny, for his part, remains focused on the long road ahead.
“I thought I got better,” he said after the season finale. “My progression has been slow, but I’m getting better every day… I’ve taken some steps in the right direction, and I’m looking forward to doing that in the years to come.”
As the Lakers head into the playoffs and Bronny closes the chapter on his rookie season, the conversation continues: Is this just hype — or the beginning of something real?
