After making a historic NBA debut alongside his father and scoring his first points in front of a hometown crowd, Bronny James is heading to the G League.
The Los Angeles Lakers assigned the 20-year-old son of LeBron James to the South Bay Lakers, a team source confirmed Thursday. ESPN first reported the news.
Bronny James, the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has appeared in four games for the Lakers. He’s averaging one point, 0.5 assists and 0.3 steals in 3.2 minutes per game.
Bronny’s first NBA appearance came on Oct. 22 in Los Angeles, where he and LeBron shared the court for a stint that lasted less than three minutes but made them the first father-son duo in NBA history to play together. In Bronny’s second appearance, on Oct. 30 in Cleveland, he scored his first basket after the hometown crowd chanted his name and erupted in celebration when he entered the game.
His initial stint in the big leagues might have been short-lived, but the 6-foot-2 guard said he achieved a “dream come true” when discussing his first basket in Cleveland.
Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox.
Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox.
Sign Up
Lakers coach JJ Redick has referred to Bronny James as “test case No. 1” for the organization’s new player development program. The Lakers’ plan is for James to shuffle between the official Lakers’ roster and the South Bay roster during the season.
“Our plans are always fluid based in real-time,” Redick said. “You base things in real-time. And the plan for Bronny to move between the Lakers roster and the South Bay roster, that’s always been the plan since Day 1. (Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager) Rob (Pelinka) and I have talked about that. LeBron’s talked about that.”
The Lakers view Bronny James as a defensive prospect with the upside to become a disruptive point-of-attack defender. He’s shown flashes as a defensive playmaker, primarily in summer league and in the preseason. His jump shot and offensive role remain a work in progress.
The South Bay Lakers open their G League season on Nov. 9 at home in El Segundo, Calif., against the Salt Lake City Stars.
Required reading
- Bronny James’ ex-teachers, teammates in Ohio recall a kid who ‘wasn’t above anyone else’
- Lakers’ Bronny James scores first career points in loss to hometown Cavaliers: ‘A dream come true’
- LeBron James gets another hero’s welcome in Cleveland. How many more are left?
- LeBron, Bronny James play together in Lakers season opener; first father-son duo to share court in NBA history
(Photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images)
