EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James is anticipated to journey on the group’s upcoming journey from Monday to Nov. 6 after which start shuttling between the energetic roster and the franchise’s South Bay G League affiliate, although coach JJ Redick mentioned these plans might change.
The Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Tuesday’s season opener, making historical past as LeBron James and Bronny James grew to become the primary father-son duo to play in an NBA recreation collectively. On Friday night time in opposition to the Phoenix Suns, Bronny dressed however didn’t play within the Lakers’ 123-116 victory at Crypto.com Area.
The Lakers host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday earlier than touring to Phoenix, Cleveland, Toronto, Detroit and Memphis.
“Our plans are at all times fluid based mostly on actual time,” Redick mentioned earlier than the sport Friday. “I consider we have now two guys dressing right now that as of yesterday we’re not dressing out.
“The plan for Bronny to maneuver between the Lakers and South Bay has at all times been the plan since day one. [General manager] Rob [Pelinka] and I’ve talked about that. LeBron’s talked about that.”
LeBron spent 11 of his first 21 years within the league with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was about to start his second season with the Cavs when Bronny was born, Oct. 6, 2004, in Akron, Ohio, making for a momentous event when the Jameses return there subsequent Wednesday.
The G League draft is Saturday, and group coaching camps run by Nov. 7. The South Bay Lakers start their G League season on Nov. 9 in opposition to the Salt Lake Metropolis Stars.
As Bronny James and his consultant, Klutch Sports activities CEO Wealthy Paul, mentioned improvement all through his predraft course of with NBA groups, sources instructed ESPN that the idea of G League play was welcomed. These sources mentioned Paul advocated for the standard contract — not a two-way deal — predraft whereas making clear he and Bronny, chosen by L.A. within the second spherical with the No. 55 choose, had been absolutely open to the event course of.
When LeBron made his first feedback about plans for Bronny’s rookie season at media day final month, he spoke about how in sync the Lakers are with their G League affiliate.
“Simply [looking forward to] seeing him proceed to develop as a basketball participant regardless of if it is right here with us or if it is down with the G League group and him persevering with to get higher and higher and higher,” LeBron mentioned. “His job is to place the work in and get higher and higher, similar to the remainder of us. And we wish to maintain him accountable, and he will maintain us accountable. And if all of us try this, all of us get higher, as a result of we’re all one group. We’re a mirrored image of South Bay; South Bay is a mirrored image of us.”
It is typical for gamers picked within the mid- to late-second spherical to spend time within the G League, gaining teaching, recreation repetitions and construction of their respective groups’ packages. Throughout the 2023-24 season, 23 of the 28 gamers chosen within the second spherical of the 2023 NBA draft hung out within the G League.
Pelinka, who can also be the Lakers’ vice chairman of basketball operations, and Redick have each mentioned creating the right synergies between the Lakers and their South Bay squad.
Redick, who was employed with no earlier head-coaching expertise partially by promoting his imaginative and prescient of creating an elite player-development program for L.A., has said that Bronny’s trajectory will present the primary likelihood to implement the strategy.
“For us, prioritizing participant improvement, we view Bronny as like, case examine one, as a result of his base degree of really feel, athleticism, point-of-attack defender, taking pictures, passing, there’s lots to love about his recreation,” Redick mentioned in July. “And as we kind of construct out our participant improvement program holistically, he will have an important alternative to turn into a superb NBA participant.”
South Bay additionally has a brand new coach this season, with L.A. hiring Zach Guthrie final month to switch Dane Johnson.
Data from The Related Press was included on this report.