While his father prepares for his 22nd NBA season, Bronny James is experiencing his very first. The spotlight is intense on the 19-year-old, selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
A 6-foot-4 guard, James averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 points in his lone year at USC. After limited minutes for the Trojans, Bronny — son of Lakers superstar LeBron James — has been the subject of endless debates about nepotism. Plus, his play in the Summer League received intense scrutiny, with some questioning his worthiness for the NBA.
First-year Lakers head coach JJ Redick has said on multiple occasions he plans to use the team's G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, for the development of the younger players on the roster. That seemingly opens a door to a G League spell for Bronny, who would benefit immensely from experience in the league.
“The G League is not a demotion by any stretch. ... We should be the model for integration between the NBA team and the G League team," Redick said during a recent episode of ESPN’s “The Lowe Post”.
Redick also had this to say about Bronny.
"I'm very high on him as a basketball player," Redick said. "He’s kind of like the first player that we get to mold and help develop. So we’re going to look at the G League as a tool in our player development system.”
In July, former ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported Bronny is expected to play the majority of his rookie year in the G League for the South Bay Lakers.
Bronny must get reps rather than sitting on the Lakers' bench. Whether it’s gaining a scoring touch, handling the ball, honing in on the defensive side or even increasing confidence, he would benefit from the G League.
“Bronny is nowhere near ready [for the NBA],” an NBA general manager told The Ringer before the draft.
South Bay has a long-established history of developing NBA talent for not just the Lakers but league-wide. Plus, it has an extensive history of developing guards for the NBA. Jordan Clarkson, Alex Caruso, Gary Payton II and Josh Hart played for South Bay before having success in the NBA.
Also, South Bay, one of the better G League affiliates, and the Lakers have a strong working relationship. The teams share facilities at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo.
Bronny has received media attention for years. The NBA is difficult for most 19-year-olds, regardless if their last name is James or not. Stepping down to the G League could provide a low-pressure environment for him to thrive.
