Bronny James plans to play only South Bay Lakers home games during the G League season: Source

9 hours ago

0 45 2 minutes read

Bronny James plans to play only South Bay Lakers home games during the G League season: Source

Bronny James plans to play only home games for the G League’s South Bay Lakers, a source close to the player said, a decision that will likely lead to a limited on-court season for the son of the game’s biggest superstar N.B.A.

The 20-year-old Bronny, who was drafted 55th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, signed a guaranteed NBA contract and is the son of LeBron James, has played a total of 16 minutes in six NBA games. He made his G League debut last weekend for South Bay, which plays in El Segundo, California, at the LA Lakers training facility, scoring six points on 2-of-9 shooting.

The source close to Bronny, who confirmed ESPN’s reporting that young James would only play home games in the G League, simply said that was the “decision” made regarding LeBron’s son.

The South Bay Lakers will play 24 home games this season, with the next one scheduled for Sunday against the Stockton Kings. Since Bronny is a rookie, the Lakers could theoretically unilaterally assign him to the G League, but there is obviously more to consider given his father’s status with the Lakers and the NBA in general.

Bronny’s contract with the Lakers is not a “two-way” deal, which is more common for players drafted as low as him, or for undrafted players, who show promise for their NBA parent club but need seasoning in the minors . Players on “two-way” deals must split time between the NBA and the 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 with an NBA contract.

The Lakers’ proximity to their G League affiliate, like several other NBA clubs with a G League team nearby, allows Bronny to more easily get some work in the minors while being close to the Lakers (and LeBron ) stays. But for a player who has only played one limited season of college basketball and appears unwilling to take on any kind of regular workload in the NBA, limiting his G League availability to home games seems likely to limit his opportunities for valuable, in-game experience.

Of course, Bronny and the Lakers could also change their minds. For example, South Bay plays the Cleveland Charge in Cleveland right after Christmas – and Bronny’s grandparents live nearby. South Bay will play two games in Mexico City in early January, and there’s also a winter show in Orlando just before Christmas that could have some appeal.