Bronny James is going to play in at least one road game in the G League after all.
James, 20, the son of NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James, is scheduled to play his first road game for the South Bay Lakers on Thursday in Phoenix against the Valley Suns, a league source confirmed to The Athletic, which represents a reversal from a previous decision for Bronny to play only in home games.
“That was the decision at the time,” said a league source with knowledge of the young James’ plans, confirming multiple media reports that Bronny would indeed play in Phoenix with South Bay.
It was quite a day for James family news around the Lakers. At practice Wednesday, Los Angeles coach JJ Redick told reporters that LeBron was not currently with the team for an “excused absence.” LeBron missed his first game of the 2024-25 season Sunday — a win over the Trail Blazers — and the Lakers don’t play again until Friday at Minnesota. Redick said LeBron was “taking some time.”
The last time James took a leave of absence from his team during the season was nearly 10 years ago when he decided not to play on his birthday in a game in Atlanta and wound up taking two weeks off from the Cavs to clear his mind and allow nagging injuries to heal.
LeBron, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, is averaging 23 points on 49.5 percent shooting, 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds. His scoring average is the lowest since his rookie season 21 years ago.
Bronny, meanwhile, is averaging 8.7 points and 2.7 assists in three G League games this season. He’s appeared in seven contests with the Lakers and has scored four total points on 1-of-8 shooting from the field.
A late second-round pick who missed half of his lone college season at the University of Southern California last year, James is now going to be available for at least some South Bay road games because “more reps are good,” the league source said.
The same source said Bronny’s availability for road games in the G League would still be selective. South Bay plays 24 home games this season — not a huge chunk of games for a young player who needs experience.
When The Athletic reported the initial decision for James to only play home games for South Bay (who holds their games at the L.A. Lakers’ training facility in El Segundo, Calif.), the door was left ajar for Bronny to appear in at least two road games — in Cleveland, where the Cavs have a G League team that hosts South Bay just after Christmas and where James’ grandparents live.
Bronny’s contract with the Lakers is not a “two-way” deal, which is more common for players drafted as low as he was, or for undrafted players, who show promise to their NBA parent club but need seasoning in the minors. Players on “two-way” deals must split time between the NBA and G League. Bronny’s deal — worth $7.9 million over four years, with the first three seasons fully guaranteed — is an NBA contract. He takes one of the Lakers’ 15 roster spots reserved for players on NBA contracts.
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- Jerseys worn by LeBron and Bronny James in historic first NBA game together sell for $102,000
(Photo: Adam Pantozzi / Getty Images)
