What if the actual pressure isn’t during the regular season… but in July, under the Vegas sun, with everyone watching and trades on the table? That’s the reality Bronny James just walked into. As the Lakers revealed their 2025 Summer League roster, all eyes zeroed in on two names. Headlining it? Bronny James and Dalton Knecht, both of whom have not just completed their rookie years, but are now also being presented as potential trade chips. And with the Lakers hunting win-now talent, this lineup feels less like a training ground and more like a showcase.

The Lakers’ Summer League roster, complete with fresh faces, underlying storylines, includes Darius Bazley, RJ Davis, DJ Steward, Julian Reese, and Cole Swider, among others, alongside Bronny and Knecht, of course. It’s a mix of two-way hopefuls, G League talent, and players fighting for a seat at the NBA table. And while Bronny’s presence was expected, yes, it’s what the Lakers do with him that’s raising eyebrows. Because he’s not just LeBron’s son anymore.

Not just the prince for the King. After missing some of his college tenure with the Trojans—recovering from a cardiac arrest in 2023, Bronny bounced back with a solid G League run: Over 11 games, he averaged 21.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, with a standout career-high 39-point game on March 24, 2025, against the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he shot 14-of-21 from the field, adding seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals. And a 17-point, five-assist game against the Milwaukee Bucks in March when LA hosted the 2x MVP in Giannis. Because he’s got momentum, yes, but he’s also got expectations. Big ones.

“Just lock into what you have going on right now,” Bronny said, quoting advice from his dad, LeBron James. “That’s what’s gonna get me better and keep me focused.” Turns out, even when LeBron made headlines by opting into the final year of his Lakers deal, Bronny was the last to know.

“One of my friends called me talking about where (and) what I was gonna do ’cause they seen my dad,” he admitted. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I have no idea what you’re talking about.’” That’s how locked in he is… or how airtight that James family poker face has become, so to speak. Either way, Bronny insists he and LeBron rarely talk shop when it comes to trades and team plans.

“We don’t really talk about it much… He just tells me not to worry about it.” But there’s no denying that the Lakers made a decision by putting Bronny in this Summer League spotlight. It’s a calculated move. A public one. And while some see it as development, others see it as LA saying: look at what we’ve got.

Meanwhile, Dalton Knecht, once considered a lottery-level steal, slid to No. 17 and is now viewed as one of the biggest value picks of the draft. He averaged 9.1 points on 46.1% shooting in his rookie year, and now no one can help but wonder about what a second-year leap might look like. But that’s not all.

Inside Bronny’s mindset

LeBron’s duties as a father and player go far beyond just motivating Bronny. How, you wonder? “Yeah, I learned a lot. He told me always just to stay consistent, always stay who you are, always stay in the lab,” Dalton said about King James when asked what he’s learned from him. And this roster — featuring names like Darius Bazley, RJ Davis, DJ Steward, and Julian Reese — is deep, but let’s not kid ourselves. It’s Bronny and Knecht drawing the cameras. But Bronny’s immediate goal?

To be in “elite physical condition,” a direct charge from new head coach JJ Redick. And he’s taking that seriously. “Just coming in every day and pushing myself more than I did the last day… that confidence just comes with time.” The California Classic kicks off July 5 in San Francisco, and Bronny’s ready. He says there’s more excitement than nervousness this time around. And there better be.

Bronny’s rookie season with the Lakers was modest on paper as he appeared in 27 games, averaging 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists while shooting 31.3% from the field and 28.1% from deep. But the real growth came in the G League, where he averaged 18.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 18 games with South Bay. There, he showed a more assertive scoring touch and improved playmaking instincts, which, by the way, are signs that, with consistent minutes, he might have more to offer than his NBA numbers suggest.

Because while the Lakers preach patience with their youth, their actions and timeline with LeBron suggest otherwise. And in Vegas, every possession, every shot, every fast break… might just be a sales pitch in disguise. Oh man, in Lakerland, even July basketball has stakes. And this summer, the games might matter most off the court.