The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that Bronny James will return to their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, after being a healthy scratch during L.A.’s 129-119 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
The move, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, comes as part of the Lakers’ ongoing plan to ensure the second-year guard receives consistent playing time and further develops his skills at a professional level.
This marks the second time this season that Bronny has been assigned to South Bay, where he previously appeared in two developmental games earlier in the month. The Lakers appear committed to gradually building his confidence and allowing him to refine his game in a lower-pressure environment before returning to the main roster.
The approach reflects a strategy many NBA teams use when it comes to young players who show potential but aren’t getting the playing time they need to develop.
The demotion didn’t stop LeBron James from publicly praising his son’s growth, making it clear that the temporary reassignment is part of a long-term development plan rather than a setback.
LeBron praises son’s growth
On a recent episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, LeBron lauded Bronny for his toughness and steady improvement, particularly on the defensive end.
“Super proud of him,” he said. “It’s been great, not only as a father but as a student of the game to see someone use what he did last year in the G League, get more comfortable, and then go into Summer League more comfortable.
“For a young player, the more and more time you get, the better you get.”
Bronny himself has embraced the opportunity to grow in the G League. During his debut with South Bay, he recorded 15 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Under the guidance of head coach JJ Redick, Bronny is focusing on improving his off-ball game.
“I’m trying to better myself off the ball,” he explained. “Me and JJ talked about all the ball handlers on the parent team, so I have to learn how to be effective off the ball. Have a .5 mentality, shoot when I’m open and get better at that.”
Redick has emphasized the need for better decision-making and movement without the ball, as these adjustments are designed to help Bronny find a smoother, more efficient role when he returns to the Lakers’ main roster.
With guidance from both his father and experienced mentors like Redick, Bronny’s trajectory appears carefully managed, reinforcing the notion that growth sometimes requires steps backward to move forward.
Read the full article here
