The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned rookie Bronny James to the South Bay Lakers, their G League affiliate, and sources knowledgeable ESPN’s Shams Charania that he’s anticipated to debut for the group Saturday in opposition to Salt Lake Metropolis. The 20-year-old has performed not more than 5 minutes in a single recreation with the Lakers to date this season.
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James to play in solely G League residence video games, break up time between the Lakers and South Bay
James shall be on the Lakers’ roster for Friday’s recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers, then will rejoin South Bay, in line with Charania’s sources. The group’s present plan is for James to play in solely G League residence video games as he splits time between the Lakers and South Bay.
Lakers coach JJ Redick stated final month that the “plan for Bronny to maneuver between the Lakers and South Bay has at all times been the plan since day one.”
“[General manager] Rob [Pelinka] and I’ve talked about that. LeBron’s talked about that,” Redick added.
The Lakers at this time assigned Bronny James to their NBA G League affiliate, South Bay, the place he’s anticipated to debut vs. Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, sources stated. James shall be on Lakers roster vs. 76ers Friday, then rejoin South Bay. https://t.co/Bj1zP5YO7I
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 7, 2024
James and his consultant, Klutch Sports activities CEO Wealthy Paul, mentioned growth all through his pre-draft course of with NBA groups, resulting in the guard contemplating G League play.
Based on Charania’s report, these sources stated Paul advocated for the standard contract as a substitute of a two-way deal earlier than the draft. Nonetheless, he and James have been nonetheless absolutely open to the event course of.
Every NBA group can signal a most of three gamers to two-way contracts. Middle Christian Koloko and guards Quincy Olivari and Armel Traore presently occupy the Lakers’ two-way spots.
Extra importantly, two-way gamers are ineligible for the NBA playoffs. The one manner for a two-way participant to grow to be eligible for the postseason is that if a group converts the participant’s two-way deal into an ordinary contract.
Bronny, LeBron James made historical past by turning into the primary father-son duo to play in an NBA recreation on the similar time
A couple of gamers drafted within the second spherical can spend time within the G League with the intention to construct on their NBA growth and hone their expertise inside their respective groups’ applications.
In the course of the 2023-24 season, 23 of the 28 gamers chosen within the second spherical of the 2023 draft frolicked within the G League. James, the fifty fifth choice on this 12 months’s draft, has appeared in 4 video games this season for the Lakers.
Within the Lakers’ season opener in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 22, Bronny and LeBron made historical past by turning into the primary father-son duo to play in an NBA recreation on the similar time.
“For us, prioritizing participant growth, we view Bronny as like, case research one, as a result of his base stage of really feel, athleticism, point-of-attack defender, capturing, passing, there’s lots to love about his recreation,” Redick advised ESPN reporters again in July.
“And as we type of construct out our participant growth program holistically, he’s going to have a fantastic alternative to grow to be a wonderful NBA participant.”
In 25 video games (six begins) at USC, the 6-foot-4 James averaged 4.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 19.3 minutes per contest. As an unfinished product, Bronny will solely profit from spending time with the South Bay Lakers.
