Bronny set to split time between Lakers, G League

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James was expected to travel on the team’s upcoming trip from Monday to Nov. 6 and then begin shuttling between the active roster and the franchise’s South Bay G League affiliate, though coach JJ Redick said those plans could change.

The Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Tuesday’s season opener, making history as LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together. L.A. faced the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena and then will host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday before traveling to Phoenix, Cleveland, Toronto, Detroit and Memphis.

“Our plans are always fluid based on real time,” Redick said before the game Friday. “I believe we have two guys dressing today that as of yesterday we’re not dressing out.

“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.”

LeBron spent 11 of his first 21 years in the league with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was about to begin his second season with the Cavs when Bronny was born, Oct. 6, 2004, in Akron, Ohio, making for a momentous occasion when the Jameses return there next Wednesday.

The G League draft is Saturday, and team training camps run through Nov. 7.

As Bronny James and his representative, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, discussed development throughout his predraft process with NBA teams, sources told ESPN that the concept of G League play was welcomed. Those sources said Paul advocated for a standard contract — not a two-way deal — predraft while making clear he and Bronny, selected by L.A. in the second round with the No. 55 pick, were fully open to the development process.

When LeBron made his first comments about plans for Bronny’s rookie season at media day last month, he spoke about how in sync the Lakers are with their G League affiliate.

“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,” LeBron 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’s typical for players picked in the mid- to late-second round to spend time in the G League, gaining coaching, game repetitions and structure in their respective teams’ programs. During the 2023-24 season, 23 of the 28 players selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft spent time in the G League.

Pelinka, who is also the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations, and Redick have both discussed creating the proper synergies between the Lakers and their South Bay squad.

Redick, who was hired with no previous head-coaching experience in part by selling his vision of establishing an elite player-development program for L.A., has stated that Bronny’s trajectory will provide the first chance to implement the approach.

“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,” Redick said in July. “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.”

South Bay also has a new coach this season, with L.A. hiring Zach Guthrie last month to replace Dane Johnson.