Whereas his father prepares for his twenty second NBA season, Bronny James is experiencing his very first. The highlight is intense on the 19-year-old, chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers with the fifty fifth decide within the 2024 NBA Draft.
A 6-foot-4 guard, James averaged 4.8 factors and a pair of.1 factors in his lone 12 months at USC. After restricted minutes for the Trojans, Bronny — son of Lakers celebrity LeBron James — has been the subject of endless debates about nepotism. Plus, his play within the Summer time League obtained intense scrutiny, with some questioning his worthiness for the NBA.
First-year Lakers head coach JJ Redick has mentioned on a number of events he plans to make use of the staff’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, for the event of the youthful gamers on the roster. That seemingly opens a door to a G League spell for Bronny, who would profit immensely from expertise within the league.
“The G League shouldn’t be a demotion by any stretch. … We ought to be the mannequin for integration between the NBA staff and the G League staff,” Redick mentioned throughout a current episode of ESPN’s “The Lowe Post”.
Redick additionally had this to say about Bronny.
“I am very excessive on him as a basketball participant,” Redick mentioned. “He’s form of like the primary participant that we get to mildew and assist develop. So we’re going to have a look at the G League as a device in our participant growth system.”
In July, former ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported Bronny is anticipated to play the vast majority of his rookie 12 months within the G League for the South Bay Lakers.
Bronny should get reps slightly than sitting on the Lakers’ bench. Whether or not it’s gaining a scoring contact, dealing with the ball, honing in on the defensive facet and even rising confidence, he would profit from the G League.
“Bronny is nowhere close to prepared [for the NBA],” an NBA general manager told The Ringer before the draft.
South Bay has a long-established historical past of creating NBA expertise for not simply the Lakers however league-wide. Plus, it has an in depth historical past of creating guards for the NBA. Jordan Clarkson, Alex Caruso, Gary Payton II and Josh Hart performed for South Bay earlier than having success within the NBA.
Additionally, South Bay, one of many higher G League associates, and the Lakers have a robust working relationship. The groups share amenities on the UCLA Well being Coaching Heart in El Segundo.
Bronny has obtained media consideration for years. The NBA is tough for many 19-year-olds, regardless if their final identify is James or not. Stepping all the way down to the G League may present a low-pressure surroundings for him to thrive.
