Opportunity has a way of exposing truths in Los Angeles. When injuries thin rotations and minutes become scarce, the players who survive are rarely the loudest scorers. Instead, they are the ones who understand how to stay ready while waiting their turn. That reality came into focus after the Lakers’ recent win over the Denver Nuggets. Following that game, LeBron James offered pointed praise for two-way big man Drew Timme, tying his appreciation directly to a path he now knows well because of his son.

Timme, an undrafted forward, stepped in off the bench to replace an injured Deandre Ayton and delivered efficiently in limited minutes. Afterward, LeBron explained why Timme’s growth has stood out to him more than most.

“He’s a smart basketball player. If you watched him any time through college or if you’ve watched many of the moments that he’s gotten in the NBA either with Brooklyn or we watched them obviously, my son plays a lot in G-League bouncing back and forth, [I’ve] seen him,” LeBron said. That mention was not incidental. It was the connective tissue.

Both Timme and Bronny James have spent time bouncing between the Lakers and the South Bay Lakers. For LeBron, that process has been personal. He has watched his son move off the main roster, take on heavier minutes in the G-League, and continue competing without guarantees.

Because of that, Timme’s journey is no longer abstract. It is familiar. LeBron has seen what it takes to stay engaged when opportunities are uneven. He has watched how confidence can be tested when production does not immediately translate to NBA minutes. That context helps explain why Timme’s composure has resonated so strongly.

“He’s a smart basketball player. He knows how to play the game. And his IQ correlates to this level,” LeBron said. “So it’s great to see that the coaches have believed in him.” That belief has not come easily.

Before his 21-point outburst off the bench in the loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Timme was largely an afterthought in the rotation. He went undrafted after graduating from Gonzaga in 2023 and spent time searching for a footing with the Brooklyn Nets, where he averaged 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds in nine games last season.

Injuries and inconsistency opened the door. Timme did the rest. Even after that breakout against Portland, Timme was realistic about his role. “Just impact the game,” Timme said. “Obviously, it would be nice to score 20 points like the other day, but that’s just not realistic.”

That mindset carried over against Denver. Timme logged just 11 minutes, did not play in the first quarter, and still produced nine points on efficient shooting. The stat line was modest. The trust behind it was not. LeBron noticed. “It’s great to see that the coaches have believed in him over the last three games, and he’s shown what he is capable of doing,” LeBron said, adding that the team should continue to play him.

Before LeBron James, JJ Redick spoke about Drew Timme’s impact

Before LeBron’s endorsement, JJ Redick had already started experimenting. Redick described the lineup featuring Timme, Vanderbilt, Ayton, and LeBron as “jarring,” but effective. “That’s a big lineup,” Redick said. “And they did a good job playing out of the post. During that stretch, we were also able to get some stops.”

That detail matters. Timme is not being evaluated as a scorer alone. He is being measured by feel, spacing, and decision-making. Those are traits that translate regardless of minutes.

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Timme’s rise is not about a permanent role. It is about validation. For LeBron, watching Timme succeed through uncertainty mirrors what he has seen from Bronny at the G-League level. Both paths demand patience, humility, and readiness. That shared reality explains the connection. It also explains the praise.

If the Lakers continue searching for reliable bench production, Timme has positioned himself as more than a temporary fill-in. And for LeBron, that matters more than box-score totals. He recognizes the grind now because he sees it up close every day. Execution, not status, is earning minutes. That lesson is shaping how LeBron views Drew Timme.