Bronny James is already preparing for his third NBA season. The 2024 second-round pick has continued to develop within the Los Angeles Lakers organization over his first two professional seasons, splitting time between the NBA and the G League while gradually carving out a reserve role at the NBA level.
During the 2025-26 season, James appeared in 42 games for the Lakers, averaging 2.9 points, 1.2 assists and 0.5 rebounds, and continued to show progress as a perimeter defender and secondary playmaker.
Before he made his professional debut in 2024, James signed a four-year, $7.9 million rookie contract with the Lakers shortly after being selected with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
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The deal included three guaranteed seasons and a fourth-year team option worth approximately $2.49 million for 2027-28. His salaries rise from $1.16 million as a rookie to $1.96 million in Year 2, $2.30 million in Year 3 and a team-option salary of $2.49 million in the final season.
The Year 3 portion of his rookie contract officially kicked in on Monday. According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, James’ $2.296 million salary for the 2026-27 season has now become fully guaranteed.
At the moment, there has been no indication that the Lakers are considering moving on from the 21-year-old guard. Los Angeles has remained committed to his long-term development, and with his salary now fully guaranteed, James appears firmly in the franchise’s plans entering training camp.
The biggest variable surrounding his future remains LeBron James. The four-time MVP is one of the NBA’s biggest free agents this summer, and his decision could shape the Lakers’ direction moving forward. In the meantime, it appears that Bronny will begin his third NBA season wearing purple and gold, with another opportunity to continue proving he belongs at the highest level.
