Nov 15th’s game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers was a masterclass by Luka Doncic, but something else also stood out. Bronny James recorded his second NBA start with Marcus Smart sitting, but ended up logging just 10 minutes. What happened? Many pointed to two key possessions, when, with the ball in his hands, Bronny folded.

After badly missing his first shot, Bronny was found wide open in the left corner by Doncic, but instead of shooting it, he hesitated, tried to drive inside, then hastily passed it back out. Doncic was seen throwing his arms and looking at head coach JJ Redick, clearly a little frustrated.

On the next possession, Doncic once again found Bronny, this time in the right corner. Still, the sophomore guard hesitated again, then drove, failing to create space, and passed the ball to Austin Reaves, who managed to bail out the Lakers by making a tough layup and adding on a free-throw for a foul. Doncic drooped his arms, disappointed, but the more damning reaction came from Redick, who yelled, “Bronny, you gotta shoot the f—— ball.” It marks JJ’s bluntest message to Bronny, delivered in a tone that suggests the coach has reached the end of his patience with Bronny’s hesitation.

Bronny was soon pulled from the game, logging just 4 minutes in the first half before returning for the second half and adding three more minutes in ‘garbage time’ as the Lakers pulled their starters, during which he recorded an assist, a steal, and a rebound.

However, this isn’t very indicative of the coach’s outlook on him coming into the year. Despite a poor preseason showing, when Bronny logged 1-12 shooting in a matchup against the Phoenix Suns, Redick had said, “He is so much more comfortable and confident as a player… Skill-wise, read-wise, all of those things have improved, but there’s a big difference between improving those things in individual workouts and small group settings, and doing it 5-on-5. … He’s a totally different player than he was a year ago. I thought the stuff that he did down in the G League last year was huge for him in developing a comfort level in playing at this level.”

Now, all that Bronny needs to do is translate those reps that he went through in the G-League last year to regular NBA play, but it might be easier said than done, especially for the 55th overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Bronny James’s Reluctance to Shoot Sets Off Social Media Storm

Los Angeles Lakers fans immediately zeroed in on the moments where Luka Doncic reacted when Bronny passed up the wide-open threes. One fan wrote: “Luka looks over at Redick twice like ‘why is he on the court if he can’t shoot a wide open corner 3?” Given Doncic’s reliance on spacing and shooters from non-centers, the fact that Bronny hesitated in these moments stood out, triggering a debate about his readiness.

Another fan offered a personal anecdote. “I was a bad shooter and the other players told me to always take open shots anyway to keep the offense flowing,” the user said, highlighting that Bronny’s decision-making in these sequences isn’t a momentary lapse, but a broader concern, especially since his point-per-game averages and efficiency has dipped considerably from even last year, now sitting at 2.3 points on just 26.9% from the field and 20% from three.

Many also wrote about his hesitancy, adding their own statistics to support their claims. One comment read, “He’s 0-4 from 3pt and 0-6 last two games. He’s not confident right now.” This represents a vicious cycle: missing shots can lead to a loss of confidence, which, in turn, magnifies the mental impact of every mistake, ultimately petrifying players.

Even with LeBron James absent from the game as he was practicing with the South Bay Lakers (G League) for conditioning, some pulled him into the moment. One post joked, “LeGM is going to have a talk with Luka,” highlighting LeBron’s position as the veteran leader on the team over Luka Doncic. It also highlighted the optics that come with being the King’s son: every possession is scrutinized, especially when the coach and lead star are visibly frustrated.

With Bronny averaging poor box score stats, as well as a -4.2 BPM, the outlook might look bleak. However, it is essential to remember that this is just the beginning of the season, and James can still improve. However, confidence is key. As one observer pointed out, “Once you stop shooting, you’re cooked.”

As the dust settles on another high-stakes night in the NBA’s unforgiving arena, Bronny James stands at a familiar crossroads one etched by legacy and lit by the flashes of his own untapped fire. The whispers from the bench and the roar of online skeptics are just echoes; the real symphony plays out in the quiet reps ahead, where hesitation gives way to instinct and doubt yields to daring. For a kid drafted not just for his name but for the grit he’s already proven in the shadows, this rough patch is merely the prelude. In a league that chews up the timid, Bronny’s next shot could be the one that silences the storm and ignites his story for good.