I’m excited to share the latest development in the basketball world. The Los Angeles Lakers have made the bold move of assigning their rookie guard, Bronny James, to their NBA affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
This decision comes just a week after Bronny made his highly anticipated NBA debut, playing four games for the Lakers and even scoring his first NBA basket in Cleveland, where his father, LeBron James, once thrilled fans.
The plan to split Bronny’s time between the NBA and G League has been in the works since day one, according to Lakers head coach JJ Redick. “The plan for Bronny to move between the Lakers and South Bay has always been there since day one. Rob [Pelinka] and I have talked about that. LeBron has discussed it with me, Redick revealed in a recent interview with ESPN.
LeBron James, the four-time NBA champion and MVP, has been vocal about his support for his son’s development. The elder James expressed his eagerness to witness his son’s continuous improvement as a basketball player, regardless of whether he plays for us or a G League team.
The 20-year-old Bronny will now make his debut for the South Bay Lakers on November 9th, when they take on the Salt Lake City Stars, the affiliate of the Utah Jazz. We expect this move to provide Bronny with valuable experience and an opportunity to hone his skills against G League competition.
He must work hard and improve like the rest of us. We want to hold him accountable, and he will also hold us accountable. And if we all do that, we all improve as a team. We’re a reflection of South Bay; South Bay is a reflection of us,” LeBron James added.
Despite being a second-round pick, the Lakers handed Bronny a guaranteed contract, a move that did not obligate him to split his time between the NBA and G League, as a two-way contract would have. However, Bronny’s underwhelming stats in his NBA debut quickly classified him as a developmental player, making the G League a logical next step.
Charles Barkley, the NBA legend, has also weighed in on the situation, stating, “The only way you get better at playing any sport is by actually playing. It’s a fantastic story for LeBron, but Bronny needs the G-League experience to grow as a basketball player.”
The UCLA Health Training Center, just a 30-minute drive from the Crypto.Com Arena, the home of the Lakers, will host the South Bay Lakers’ home games. Tickets for Bronny’s debut have already sold out, but fans can tune in to watch the game on Tubi and Spectrum SportsNet.
Interestingly, Bronny’s guaranteed contract with the Lakers is a four-year, $7.89 million deal, making him one of the highest-paid players in the G League. This is a stark contrast to the current highest-paid player, London Johnson, who is on a two-year, $1.1 million contract.
While Bronny’s NBA debut may not have lived up to the hype, the Lakers and the James family remain optimistic about his future. Scouts have noted that Bronny’s defensive playmaking skills have shown promise, and the G League experience will provide him with the opportunity to improve his offensive game and overall development.
“Our plans are always fluid based on real time,” said Redick. “You base things on real time.” The plan has always been for Bronny to switch between the Lakers and South Bay rosters.
As Bronny James takes his next step in his professional basketball journey, all eyes will be on the young star as he looks to make his mark in the G League and potentially earn a spot back on the Lakers’ roster in the future.