Bronny James plans to only play in home games for the South Bay Lakers of the G League, a source close to the player said, a decision that will likely lead to a limited season on the court for the son of the NBA’s biggest superstar.
Bronny, 20, who was drafted 55th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, signed to a guaranteed NBA contract, and is the son of LeBron James, has played 16 total minutes in six NBA games. He made his G League debut last weekend for South Bay, which plays in El Segundo, Calif. at the L.A. Lakers’ training facility, and scored six points on 2-of-9 shooting.
The source close to Bronny, who confirmed ESPN’s reporting that the young James would only play home games in the G League, said simply that this was the “decision” made with regard to LeBron’s son.
The South Bay Lakers play 24 home games this season, with their next scheduled for Sunday against the Stockton Kings. Because Bronny is a rookie, the Lakers could theoretically unilaterally assign him to the G League, but obviously there is more to consider here given his father’s status with the Lakers and the NBA at large.
Bronny’s contract with the Lakers is not a “two-way” deal, which is more common for players drafted as low as he was, or for undrafted players, who show promise to their NBA parent club but need seasoning in the minors. Players on “two-way” deals must split time between the NBA and 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 on NBA contracts.
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 staying close to the Lakers (and LeBron). But for a player who only played one limited season of college basketball, and does not appear to be ready to assume any kind of regular workload in the NBA, limiting his G League availability to home games would seem to shrink his opportunities for valuable, in-game experience.
Bronny and the Lakers could of course change their minds, too. For instance, South Bay plays the Cleveland Charge in Cleveland just after Christmas — and Bronny’s grandparents live in the area. South Bay plays two games in Mexico City in early January, and there is also the league’s winter showcase in Orlando just before Christmas that could hold some appeal.
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