Lakers rookie guard Bronny James, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Pete Nance defends during the second half on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers center Trey Jemison III, left, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, shoots as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin, right, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dunks as Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7), center Jaxson Hayes (11) and forward Markieff Morris (88) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward Cam Reddish (5) shoots as Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (3) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Bronny James, top, falls over Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. as Trent Jr. tries to shoot during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Bronny James, top, falls over Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. as Trent Jr. tries to shoot during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
From left, injured Lakers forward LeBron James, injured Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, guard Luka Doncic and forward Markieff Morris sit on the bench during the first half of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, shoots as Lakers forward Markieff Morris defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, center, shoots as Lakers center Trey Jemison III, left, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins, right, reaches for a rebound along with Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) shoots as Milwaukee Bucks guard Stanley Umude (17) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins, right, and Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, shoots as Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr., right, passes the ball as Lakers center Trey Jemison III puts pressure on him during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince, left, shoots as Lakers guard Gabe Vincent defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Bronny James, left, passes the ball while under pressure from Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, left, and Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, shoots as Lakers center Trey Jemison III defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward Markieff Morris, below, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins go after a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma, right, shoots as Lakers guard Dalton Knecht defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Bronny James, right, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, center, shoots as Lakers forward Cam Reddish, left and center Trey Jemison III defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, left, goes after a rebound along with Lakers forward Markieff Morris, center, and guard Jordan Goodwin during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma,left, shoots as Lakers forward Markieff Morris defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers rookie guard Bronny James, right, drives toward the basket as Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins defends during the first half on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Peggy Ann Farrar, left, Normandie DiCaprio, second from left, actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Lakers owner Jeanie Buss watch during the second half of a game between the Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Lakers rookie guard Bronny James, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Pete Nance defends during the second half on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — A rare sixth game in eight nights for the Lakers meant Thursday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks would feature opportunities for players who don’t usually get them.
Enter rookie Bronny James, who seized his opportunity in the Lakers’ 118-89 blowout loss to the Bucks in his best NBA game since being selected in the second round of the NBA draft last June.
“I’ve gained my confidence and gave my comfortability over just reps and getting out there and taking advantage of my opportunity if it’s given,” Bronny said. “So just being ready at all times. That’s the biggest thing for me … staying in the stay-ready games and practice and stuff like that and taking advantage like I did [on Thursday].”
The son of Lakers star LeBron James, Bronny had career highs of 17 points and five assists to go with three rebounds and a blocked shot in 30 minutes – nearly double the amount of playing time he had in any previous NBA game and the the first time he scored in double figures (22 games).
“We’ve monitored him in the G [League] and feel like in those sort of end-game situations, when he’s gotten a chance to play with us, he’s been really good,” Coach JJ Redick said. “So not surprised by [Thursday]. His confidence is growing. You mentioned the word comfort, that’s certainly there for him.”
Bronny shot 7 for 10 from the field, including 2 for 4 from behind the arc.
“The next step is just becoming an elite-conditioned athlete,” Redick said. “Because when he does that with his physical tools and just his burst and his handle, we think he’s gonna be an above-average to really good NBA shooter. He’s gonna have a chance to really make an impact.”
Fellow rookie Dalton Knecht also scored 17 points against the Bucks.
Veteran center Alex Len was the only other Laker to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks, who were without Damian Lillard, with 28 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.
Gary Trent Jr. had 23 points off the bench for Milwaukee and former Laker Kyle Kuzma added 20 points.
“Since day one, I’ve just been impressed with the person that he is,” Redick said. “And to deal with … frankly, [expletive] because of who his dad is and just keep a level head about it and be a class act says a lot about him, says a lot about that family and the way LeBron and Savannah have raised him.
“Was obvious to me from the moment I started spending time with him on the court this summer that he was certainly going to be an NBA player and I still believe that he’ll be an NBA player.”
Bronny said he’s been able to block out the noise surrounding him by “just putting my head down and working.”
“I feel like that’s the only thing that I can control right now is going in every day and staying ready to play, staying ready to learn, getting the work in after hours, early mornings, stuff like that,” he added. “Just all the controllables that I can do myself. There’s not really much I can do [about] people, random people, talking about me every day. Can’t really do much about that, so I just go in the gym and work, put my head down and try to get better.”
The Lakers’ loss was their first at Crypto.com Arena since falling to the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 19, ending a nine-game home winning streak.
The defeat also ended the three-game win streak they were on since returning from a winless four-game road trip.
But the Lakers went 3-3 in the stretch of three consecutive back-to-backs that started with road losses to the Bucks and Denver Nuggets last Thursday and Friday, respectively.
“Big picture … feel good that you go 3-3 in this stretch,” Redick said. “It was going to be tough no matter what. The added game made it harder. I don’t think the game that exists today in the NBA and the modern NBA player is like [built to do this]. I wouldn’t be either if this was what I came up in and this was the game that I had to play every night. It’s different than when I first started. You’re not built to play six games in eight nights. The game doesn’t allow you to play six games in eight nights. It’s just impossible. That’s why we, I don’t think, have four in five anymore.
Redick added: “What our guys just went through, it’s difficult. And the old-heads are gonna talk about how physical it was in the [1980s] and [1990s] and that’s fine. But the level of physicality in our game and the way that the court has to be covered and all the movement, it’s tough. And I’m just glad to be on the other side of it and hopefully going forward we are healthy and can make a push here.”
The Lakers (43-26) are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, a half-game ahead of the fifth-place Memphis Grizzlies (43-27).
The Lakers close their five-game homestand on Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls.
