Shams Charania, November 7, 2024, 04:47 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned rookie Bronny James to their G League affiliate, the South Bay, and sources tell ESPN that he is expected to make his debut with the team on Saturday against Salt Lake City.
James will be on the Lakers’ roster for Friday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers, then will rejoin the South Bay, according to sources.
The sources said that the organization’s current plan is for James to play in Major League home matches only during his transfers between the Lakers and South Bay.
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“Bronny’s plan to move between the Lakers and South Bay has always been the plan since day one,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said last month.
While James and his representative, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, discussed development during the pre-draft process with NBA teams, sources told ESPN that the concept of G League play was welcomed. Those sources said Ball advocated for a standard contract — not a two-way deal — before the draft while making clear that he and James are completely open to the development process.
Players drafted in the mid-to-late second round typically spend time in the G League, gaining practice, game repetition, and structure in their teams’ programs. During the 2023-24 season, 23 of the 28 players selected in the second round of the 2023 draft spent time in the G League.
James, the 55th pick in this year’s draft, has appeared in four games this season with the Lakers.
One of them came in the Lakers’ season opener on October 22, when LeBron made history by becoming the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game at the same time.
