The Lakers are suiting up to face the 76ers on Sunday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. They are heading into this game following a tough 126-105 loss against the Celtics, and with uncertainties around LeBron James’ availability, the only James that the fans may get to see in Philadelphia could be his son, Bronny James.

The Sixers are meanwhile on an upward curve, having won three consecutive games heading into this matchup, and they will hope to utilize the home court advantage to their benefit as both teams meet for the first time this season.

Is Bronny James Playing Tonight vs 76ers?

Bronny James is available for this game, and after a confident seven-minute outing against the Celtics, the youngster is gradually growing into a rotation role for the Lakers. Even though Bronny is not going to start the game, he could be called into action from the bench.

He has time and again proven himself to be a useful piece for the Lakers, at least off the bench. It will be interesting to see the 21-year-old guard get more game time if the situation permits.

The Lakers are already in a precarious situation, with veteran guard Marcus Smart already out of contention due to a back issue. So there’s a possibility of Bronny James getting some of those minutes in his absence.

Top Stories

Sophie Cunningham’s Sharp Response Divides WNBA Fans Amid Caitlin Clark’s Project B Decision

Are LeBron James, Luka Doncic Playing Tonight? Lakers vs. 76ers Full Injury Report (Dec 7)

Caitlin Clark Bearing Witness As Indiana Headlines First-Ever Milestone in 58 Years

Did Lakers Sign Chris Paul to a Season-Long Deal? Fact-Checking Viral Claim

Warriors Fans Divided Over Steve Kerr’s Controversial Jonathan Kuminga & Brandin Podziemski Claims

LeBron James Injury Update: What Happened to the Lakers Star?

LeBron James was absent for the Lakers’ showdown with the Celtics, marking his 16th missed game of the year. But just hours before Sunday’s meeting with the 76ers, a shift in momentum arrived. Battling left foot arthritis and a right sciatica flare-up, the Akron Hammer was upgraded from probable to available—a welcome boost for a team that’s felt his absence.

That missed game carried extra weight, too. It followed the end of one of the most remarkable streaks in league history: James’ 1,297-game stretch of scoring in double figures, a run that began all the way back in 2007, finally came to a close against the Toronto Raptors.

He had a golden opportunity to maintain that streak in the final few seconds, but he found Rui Hachimura in the corner, who drained a three-pointer, guiding the Lakers to victory.

“It’s called old,” James said following the Lakers’ 125-108 loss to the Phoenix Suns earlier this month when he was asked about his foot injury. “You just wake up with s–t that you didn’t have the night before.”

The Lakers coach dropped a subtle hint about LeBron James’ availability against the Philadelphia 76ers. “The hope for all the guys would be that they’re available Sunday,” Redick said after their recent loss against the Celtics. “That’s the hope for everybody.”

LA Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers Predicted Lineups

Based on the injury information around both sides, here are our predicted lineups:

It will be interesting to see if LeBron James eventually starts against Philadelphia or not, but with Luka Doncic’s availability confirmed and Austin Reeves looking in sublime form, the Lakers will start as favourites.

How Many Minutes Has Bronny James Been Playing Recently?

Since becoming the 55th overall draft pick in 2024, Bronny James has gradually improved his performance for the Purple and Gold. The young guard played 27 games in total last season, averaging 2.3 points from 6.7 minutes per game.

His average minutes per game have improved this season to 9.5 minutes across 13 games. However, his scoring average remains at 2.0 points per game.

Bronny James featured for seven minutes against the Celtics in the fourth quarter and showcased his skills with a thunderous dunk and an expert three-pointer from deep. He finished with five points, a solitary assist, and a steal.

As the Lakers gear up to face the 76ers, it’s worth noting Paul George’s early‑season knee absence in Philadelphia forced Nick Nurse to lean heavily on rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, turning a veteran star’s injury into a fast‑tracked proving ground for one of the draft’s most hyped prospects—much like the Lakers are doing with Bronny since the 2024-25 season.