Why is Bronny James playing the NBA playoffs? How injuries have elevated LeBron James' son to key role for Lakers

Why is Bronny James playing the NBA playoffs? How injuries have elevated LeBron James' son to key role for Lakers originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

A year ago, the thought of Bronny James contributing significant playoff minutes to the Los Angeles Lakers may have been inconceivable. But in April 2026, that's where the team is at. Heading into the 2026 NBA Playoffs with a first-round matchup against the Houston Rockets , LeBron James is likely going to have playoff minutes alongside his son — something that, considering Bronny James' age and limited experience, wasn't considered very realistic even at the beginning of the season.

But with the younger James playing well recently and Los Angeles dealing with two major injuries to guards, JJ Redick has found some stability in his father-son duo. Here's why Bronny James is likely set to contribute to the Lakers in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. SN's NBA HQ: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA standings | Full NBA schedule Why is Bronny James playing in the NBA playoffs?

When the Lakers drafted Bronny James 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, or even throughout the 2024-25 season, there was little-to-no thoughts of the guard becoming a rotational player any time soon. James primarily played in the G League, where he continued to develop after having limited experience at USC. Outside of the occasional moment with his father on the court, or starting in the Lakers' season finale in 2024-25, Bronny James was viewed as a player who would take a while to develop.