JJ Redick wants Bronny James to study Cason Wallace. Image via: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Bronny James Embraces Role Model in Cason Wallace
Before the start of the 2026-27 Lakers training camp, Bronny James received a reading list from JJ Redick. The focus is on a tape featuring Cason Wallace, a guard for Oklahoma City who secured a starting position through his defensive skills, effective spacing, and adherence to team strategy. As James enters his third year, he faces the challenge of carving out his own role alongside established ball handlers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Cason Wallace was selected as the tenth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. While he initially sought more scoring opportunities and greater control over the offense, he opted instead to embrace a more limited role with the Thunder. This decision ultimately contributed to his success and helped him achieve championship status with the team.
JJ Redick tells Bronny James to study Cason Wallace
The 22-year-old guard just made second-team All-Defense while averaging 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals in 26.6 minutes a night. He had six 20-point games and six with at least six assists, proof he can do more when a night calls for it. Last season Wallace took 275 of his 288 three-point attempts with a defender at least four feet away, firing 3.7 of those looks a game without ever forcing the issue. James took over five threes a night across 20 G League appearances, but defenses will keep sagging off him until he proves he can make teams pay for it consistently. Wallace measured a 6-foot-8.5 wingspan at the 2024 draft combine, 1.3 inches longer than James’s, and he uses it to pressure the ball full court and jump passing lanes. James has produced 0.5 defensive win shares and negative 0.5 offensive win shares through two seasons, numbers that need to move before he earns a bigger role. Los Angeles holds a $2.4 million team option on James for 2027-28, and he hits unrestricted free agency the summer after.
Both of those guards get real touches running their own offense, which is a luxury James won’t have behind Doncic and Reaves. Los Angeles signed Collin Sexton to run the bench unit, and Doncic and Reaves will carry the first unit’s shot creation.
Image via: Getty Images JJ Redick’s ask lines up with what he told James a year ago, when he pointed him toward TJ McConnell and Davion Mitchell as models. “I’ll be off-ball when it is needed,” he told ESPN LA this summer, adding that he’s spent the offseason sharpening his shot and his ability to set up others. JJ Redick reveals what Bronny James needs to do. Wallace is the more honest comparison. James is already saying the right things. This is the mindset Redick is banking on. There isn’t room for James to freelance. There is room for him to guard, space and finish. Cason Wallace. Image via: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The numbers show why Redick keeps circling back to Wallace. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines The gap is even more obvious in the defense. Redick has already shown he wants the same defensive habits from James that he once pointed to in McConnell and Mitchell. Wallace is simply the clearest example wearing the right jersey. The clock on this experiment isn’t open-ended. Wallace’s path shows exactly what buying in can turn into. Whether James takes the same route starts with how seriously he studies the tape Redick just handed him. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
