Bronny is about to be making a visit to the G League.
The Los Angeles Lakers rookie is with the team for their five-game road trip, that started with a first defeat of the season in Phoenix on Monday night and goes all the way through November 7 in Memphis.
The James’ made history by becoming the first ever father-son duo to play together in an NBA gameGetty
However, after that, James Jr. will begin going back and forth between the active roster and the franchise’s South Bay G League affiliate.
Apparently, this was the plan all along, which will remain flexible.
At least according to the Los Angeles front office, head coach JJ Redick and LeBron James himself.
“Our plans are always fluid based on real time,” Redick said before the weekend.
“The plan for Bronny to move between the Lakers and South Bay has always been the plan since day one.
“[General manager] Rob [Pelinka] and I have talked about that. LeBron’s talked about that.”
Bronny made is NBA debut in the Lakers’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, recording one rebound and zero points in three minutes of action – but he is yet to see further action.
The James’ made history, as LeBron and Bronny became the first ever father-son duo in NBA history to play a game together.
The Lakers began the season 3-0 for the first time since the 2010-2011 season, when they started 8-0 under head coach Phil Jackson and the legendary Kobe Bryant.
James Jr. hasn’t had much of an impact on that, through no fault of his own, he isn’t ready to be receiving consistent minutes in an NBA rotation, which is why he will soon be spending his time in the G League.
The younger James was taken with 55th pick in the draft, in large part to the presence of his father wanting to play with his sonGetty
LeBron knew this was the plan all along, as Redick alluded to, when he spoke on the matter at media day last month about the possibility of his son playing on the Lakers’ G League team, the South Bay Lakers.
“Just [looking forward to] seeing him continue to grow as a basketball player, no matter if it’s here with us or if it’s down with the G League team, and him continuing to get better and better and better,” James said.
“His job is to put the work in and get better and better, just like the rest of us. And we want to hold him accountable, and he’s going to hold us accountable.
“And if we all do that, we all get better, because we’re all one team. We’re a reflection of South Bay; South Bay is a reflection of us.”
It will now be up to Bronny to work on his game in the G League and prove his value to the Lakers organization.
What is the G League?
The G League is the NBA’s official minor league, similar to MLB‘s minor league system, albeit it is just one league.
It is essentially the farm system for players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff to hone in on their craft, no matter the role, who aren’t quite ready to do it at an NBA level.
It’s common for players drafted in the mid-to-late second round to spend time in the G League, gaining game repetitions and structure in their respective teams’ ‘minor league’ programs.
Last season, 23 of the 28 players selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft spent time in the G League.
It is all just part of the process for Bronny. and a player that Redick is excited to watch grow and develop.
“For us, prioritizing player development, we view Bronny as like, case study one, because his base level of feel, athleticism, point-of-attack defender, shooting, passing, there’s a lot to like about his game,” the Lakers new head coach said over the summer.
“And as we sort of build out our player development program holistically, he’s going to have a great opportunity to become an excellent NBA player.”
It’s now up to Bronny to decide the type of player he wants to be, and if he can consistently remain on the Lakers’ active roster throughout the season.
