The Los Angeles Lakers assign Bronny James to their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, marking an important step in the young guard’s professional journey. This decision was announced on Thursday and reflects the team’s strategy to develop their rookie talent.
James will remain with the Lakers until Friday, when the team faces off against the Philadelphia 76ers. He is expected to make his debut for the South Bay Lakers on Saturday. Notably, he will only participate in home games for South Bay, as the Lakers plan to shuttle him between their NBA and G League rosters throughout the season, according to ESPN.
So far, James has played in four of the Lakers’ eight games, accumulating about 13 minutes of court time. His first points came during the team’s Oct. 30 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, a significant moment as it took place in a city where his father, LeBron James, previously played and achieved NBA Finals glory.
Bronny was selected by Los Angeles with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after his time at USC. The Lakers currently hold a 4-4 record, placing them in the 10th seed of the Western Conference. This season is particularly historic, as LeBron and Bronny are the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA, a milestone that adds a unique narrative to the league’s storied history.
For the seasoned LeBron James, the 39-year-old superstar is averaging 24.0 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game while maintaining impressive shooting percentages of 51.1% from the field, 46.8% from three-point range, and 78.0% from the free-throw line.