Nationwide — When the Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James, the 20-year-old son of LeBron James, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, expectations were mixed. While some assumed he would spend most of his rookie season developing in the G League, the Lakers surprised many by signing him to a guaranteed contract and keeping him on the NBA roster to start the season. Notably, Bronny is the highest-paid player in the G League making more than $1 million but currently, he ranks 330th out of 336 players in performance metrics.
According to Bro Bible, after struggling in his initial NBA games, where he appeared out of sync, the Lakers reassigned Bronny to their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. However, the move came with a unique arrangement: Bronny would only play home games for South Bay, rejoining the NBA roster when the G League team traveled.
Bronny has since made two appearances for South Bay, but his performances have been far from promising. In his debut on November 9, he scored just six points on 22% shooting. His second outing didn’t fare much better, as he finished with four points on 2-of-10 shooting, along with two rebounds, two assists, and a block, in a 127-122 loss.
South Bay head coach Zach Guthrie offered a candid assessment of Bronny’s early struggles. “It’s about competing at a high level and playing the right way,” Guthrie explained. “We need to raise our collective intensity on the ball. It’s hard when you haven’t played at a high level your whole life. You have to learn to be physical, dictate the pace, and adapt to modern offenses. In the G League, there are no days off; every possession matters.” Bronny’s difficulties stand in stark contrast to players like Mac McClung, the 2024 G League MVP and two-time NBA Dunk Contest champion. Even McClung, despite his success in the G League, has struggled to secure a permanent spot on an NBA roster, highlighting the uphill battle Bronny faces in his professional development.