The California Classic is giving Bronny James a real stage this summer, and the Los Angeles Lakers rookie delivered a highlight moment on Tuesday night that turned heads across the league.

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In his second appearance of the Summer League, James used a slick crossover near midcourt to shake free from his defender and glide in for a clean layup. The move drew plenty of attention, including from the NBA’s official social media channels, which shared the clip with some impressed commentary.

"@bronny with the nice crossover to get himself free for the bucket! 👀"

 

 

 

 

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The Lakers were up against the San Antonio Spurs, and while it wasn’t a regular-season game, the buzz around Bronny is very real. He finished the game showing more flashes of the energy and confidence that fans are hoping to see consistently.

Building His Case for a Bigger Role

Bronny’s moment came just days after he posted 10 points against the Miami Heat, a solid performance that also included a couple of threes, a steal, and a pair of rebounds, all in just 11 minutes. The 20-year-old guard is working to carve out a meaningful role after a limited rookie year with Los Angeles.

He played in 27 games last season, averaging 2.3 points in under seven minutes per outing. The expectations are still measured, but the Summer League is his shot to prove he belongs in JJ Redick’s rotation heading into training camp.

Bronny's next opportunity to showcase his development will come Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA 2K26 Summer League. For now, he's making the most of every touch, and moments like Tuesday’s drive are giving fans, and coaches, a reason to take notice.

The Lakers may not be counting on Bronny to carry the load this season, but if he keeps flashing confidence and control like he did Tuesday night, there’s no doubt the conversation around him will keep growing.

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