Nick Wright urges JJ Redick to give ‘the single worst’ LA Lakers player’s minutes to Bronny James

The comment reflects growing frustration with the Lakers’ bench, particularly as they try to adjust without consistent production from role players.

Wright’s suggestion also ties into Bronny’s limited role so far, where he has only seen brief minutes despite showing flashes earlier in the playoffs.

Jake LaRavia’s Game 1 struggles vs OKC fuel rotation debate

The numbers from Game 1 help explain where the criticism is coming from.

Jake LaRavia finished with just three points in 14 minutes, along with two turnovers and a -9 plus-minus in the Lakers’ 108-90 loss.

More importantly, his impact went beyond the box score. The Lakers’ bench was outscored 34-15, highlighting a clear gap in production compared to Oklahoma City’s second unit.

LaRavia’s struggles have been part of a larger issue. The Thunder’s aggressive perimeter defense forced mistakes and disrupted rhythm, particularly for players asked to step into bigger roles due to injuries.

At the same time, Bronny’s role has remained limited. He played just two minutes in Game 1 after averaging around seven minutes per game in the previous series, where he had started to find some rhythm.

That contrast is what Wright is pointing at. If the current rotation is not producing, the argument is that giving those minutes to a younger, more energetic option could at least change the dynamic.

Read more:

• Fans’ tone on Bronny James shifts after Lakers’ 115-96 loss to Rockets
• How Bronny James’ 5 points were more valuable than entire Houston Rockets bench’s scoring
• LeBron James claps back at Ron Harper for calling out his influence on Bronny James