Bronny James. Image via: Katelyn Mulcahy/ Getty Images
Buha made the pitch on his podcast after Wednesday’s 123-112 win over the Bucks, a game in which James played four minutes and missed his only shot from the field. The Lakers are 11-2, the best record in the league. The 22-year-old guard has played six games and is averaging 1.3 points in 2.8 minutes. Bronny James is a minus-40 in 16 minutes and 35 seconds this season, so the Lakers have been outscored by 40 points while James has been on the floor. Against Milwaukee, the guard scored four points, made all four free throws and finished minus-13. The 30-year-old won the 2023 title with Denver, played all 82 games for the Nuggets last season and averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 38.5 percent three-point shooting.
Neither can run the offense or handle pressure, he said, and the Lakers “might have the worst third-string ball handler in the NBA. Buha asked why not “waive Bronny and just have Bruce Brown on the team?” Lakers insider Jovan Buha wants Los Angeles to waive Bronny James and sign free agent Bruce Brown. Their third-string guard spot is the one soft spot Buha sees, and James sits at the center of it. Buha’s case starts with one number. Buha put Jaden Hardy in the same group. What they need is a placeholder floor general who can break a press and run the clock while the stars rest. Buha pointed to Brown as the fix. Brown is not a traditional point guard, though he has handled the ball for Detroit, Brooklyn and Denver.
New York waived him before the season, and he is still unsigned.
On the We Said What We Said Show, he said fans pile on James after every bad night while other high picks from the 2024 class have struggled too. 5 and recalled the guard two days later.
“There’s guys in the first round that’s not even in the league anymore,” Arenas said. Arenas sees it differently. Rob Dillingham, the eighth pick, was waived by Charlotte in late September and has no NBA team. Arenas added that James plays fine in the G League but usually checks in for the final two minutes in the NBA. The Lakers sent James to Coachella Valley on Nov. Both sides keep coming back to one detail: James is playing under three minutes a game.