Bronny James’ struggles and alarming minus-40 plus-minus in just 16 minutes and 35 seconds this season have raised concerns about his NBA future, with the Los Angeles Lakers urged to consider replacing him with veteran NBA champion Bruce Brown.
The Los Angeles Lakers have started the 2026-27 NBA season with a league-best 11-2 record, but concerns are growing over their third-string rotation, particularly Bronny James and Jaden Hardy.
NBA reporter Jovan Buha strongly criticized the team’s end-of-bench players following Wednesday’s 123-112 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, even raising questions about James’ long-term NBA future.
The 22-year-old guard has appeared in six games this season, averaging just 1.3 points, 0.0 rebounds, and 0.0 assists in 2.8 minutes per game.
“Bronny is a minus-40 in 16 minutes and 35 seconds this season,” Buha said on his Buha’s Block podcast. “Think about that. That’s not even a quarter and a half of basketball. The Lakers have been outscored by 40 in his 16 and a half minutes.”
Bronny played four minutes against Milwaukee, finishing with four points, no rebounds, and no assists. He missed his only field-goal attempt but made all four free throws, recording a minus-13.
The reporter singled out James and Hardy for their inability to organize the offense and handle defensive pressure, questioning whether the Lakers can continue relying on them.
“When you look at Bronny and his lack of progress this year, it is concerning,” Buha noted.
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Bronny James’ NBA future comes into question
“If LA waived him, I’d be surprised if someone picked him up on an actual contract,” Buha said.
“Maybe someone picks him up on a two-way. Maybe Philly picks him up on a two-way, or somewhere picks him up on a two-way,” he added. “I don’t think he ends up on a 15-man roster.”
According to Buha, Los Angeles needs another dependable ball-handler capable of running the offense, breaking full-court pressure, and protecting leads when its stars are resting.
“They might have the worst third-string ball handler in the NBA,” Buha said.
“They just need, like, a placeholder floor general to just run the show for a bit and break a press, get the guys set up, dribble the clock out, run the offense. That’s what the Lakers need, and that’s not Hardy, and that’s not Bronny.”
The reporter then floated a possible roster change involving veteran NBA champion Bruce Brown.
“Bruce Brown, I’d be cool with Bruce Brown,” Buha said of the 30-year-old guard. “At this point, why not waive Bronny and just have Bruce Brown on the team?”
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Brown, who won the 2023 NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets, could provide the Lakers with additional experience and ball-handling depth.
The veteran was waived by the New York Knicks shortly before the 2026-27 season after signing an Exhibit 9 contract.
Last season, Brown appeared in all 82 games for the Denver Nuggets, averaging 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 38.5% from three-point range.
Although Brown is not a traditional point guard, he has extensive experience sharing playmaking responsibilities.
Detroit used him at point guard early in his career, while he later handled the ball for Brooklyn and Denver. Specifically, during Denver’s 2022-23 championship season, he moved into the backup point guard role after Bones Hyland was traded.
“Bronny was just in the rotation at the end of last season, and he’s looked like a shell of himself this season,” Buha said, shifting his focus back to the team’s current reserves.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but those guys have both played better previously. And for whatever reason, they’ve been unable to meet the moment so far in a pretty concerning way.”
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