The Los Angeles Lakers’ season ended in disappointment with a Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.

That defeat also closed the book on Bronny James’ rookie year, a campaign that attracted considerable media attention as he shared the court with his legendary father, LeBron.

The younger James spent his debut season bouncing between the Lakers’ main roster and their G-League affiliate, finding it difficult to secure steady playing time at the NBA level.

However, a Western Conference executive believes his opportunities could grow substantially next season.

“The fact is, he was a lot better player in April than he was in October, and definitely in July… If he can show that wasn’t a fluke, he is going to start getting 10, 15 minutes a night because the team is going to feel like they can trust him. I think he is going to do all that. He is going to be a regular for them next year,” the executive aid, per Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney.

The executive noted Bronny’s visible adjustment to the NBA’s pace as the months passed.

His development suggests he could emerge as an elite on-ball defender while building confidence as a perimeter shooter.

Los Angeles faces uncertainty regarding their offseason strategy, particularly if they explore trading backcourt pieces to bolster their frontcourt depth.

Such roster changes might create additional playing time for Bronny under new head coach JJ Redick.

Bronny posted a career-high 12 points late in the regular season and delivered an impressive 39-point performance in G-League action.

After dealing with a heart condition that limited his freshman season at USC, he clearly benefited from consistent minutes without health complications.

With proper health maintenance, there appears to be no barrier preventing him from establishing a more significant role.