Bronny James looks to split time between G League and Lakers

October 26, 2024

Bronny is expected to spend time next month with the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers’ G League affiliate.

LeBron “Bronny” James Jr. is expected to split time between the Los Angeles Lakers and the club’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, after the team’s road trip ends on November 6th.

According to ESPNalthough Lakers head coach JJ Redick announced these plans subject to changeThe team plans to use James as a player on a two-way contract, meaning he can be sent between the two clubs if necessary.

As told by Redick ESPN October 25: “Our plans are always changing and are based on real time. I think we have two guys today that we haven’t dressed as of yesterday.”

Redick continued: “The plan for Bronny to move between the Lakers and the South Bay was always the plan from day one. (General Manager) Rob (Pelinka) and I talked about it. LeBron talked about it.”

According to Redick, at the Lakers’ media day in September, LeBron, who along with Bronny made history on Oct. 22 as the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA regular-season game, discussed his hopes for his son’s rookie season.

“Just (looking forward to) watching him continue to grow as a basketball player, whether he’s here with us or not on a G League team, and he continues to get better and better and better,” LeBron told reporters. “His job is to work and get better and better, just like the rest of us. And we want to hold him accountable, and he’s going to hold us accountable. And if we all do this, we will all be better people because we are all one team. We are a reflection of the South Bay; The South Bay is a reflection of us.”

It would be unreasonable to expect second-round pick Bronny to come in and have any real impact on the Lakers’ NBA roster; Most second-round picks will have to spend time developing their game in the G League.

According to ESPN23 of the 28 players selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft spent some time in the G League.

As Redick said in July, the G League is a key part of the team’s player development program.

“For us, in prioritizing player development, we look at Bronny as a prime example because his base level of feel, athleticism, point defense, shooting, passing, there’s a lot to like about his game,” Redick said. . “And as we kind of build our player development program holistically, he’s going to have a great opportunity to become a great NBA player.”

James also has an important voice that also believes in the Lakers coaching staff’s ability to get the best out of Bronny: Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

Johnson said earlier in October during a speech at Jimmy Kimmel Live that he believes James can succeed under the tutelage of the South Bay Lakers coaching staff.

“If I were Bronny, I would tell my dad, ‘Just let me play in the G League all season so I can develop,'” Johnson told Kimmel. “He needs playing time. He doesn’t have to sit on the Lakers bench and not play. This is not a reproach against him, he is simply not ready. He needs to develop more and then he will be ready because he has a lot of talent and skills.”