Bronny James to Play Only in South Bay Lakers' Home Games, Sparks Criticism

Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of NBA superstar LeBron James, has been slated to play exclusively in home games for the South Bay Lakers, the Los Angeles Lakers' G League affiliate. This decision has raised eyebrows, with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst criticizing the arrangement during a recent appearance on The Hoop Collective podcast.

“I don’t know whose idea it was, but obviously, the Lakers are fine with it,” Windhorst remarked. “They’re doing it. On this particular instance, I think that’s gone too far, and I don’t think it benefits Bronny. I don’t think it benefits the South Bay Lakers, and I don’t think it benefits LeBron at this point.”

The limited playing time and the decision to restrict Bronny’s participation to only home games could hinder his development, according to Windhorst. While the G League offers valuable playing opportunities, Bronny's role with the Lakers has been largely confined to sitting on the bench or participating in occasional appearances during blowouts.

The G League, unlike NBA teams, uses commercial flights for travel, which may have played a role in the Lakers' decision to limit Bronny's schedule to home games. Nonetheless, Bronny’s popularity has surged, particularly since his debut in the NBA Summer League, with home games for the South Bay Lakers selling out due to his involvement.

Magic Johnson Weighs In

Lakers legend Magic Johnson also shared his thoughts on how the team should handle Bronny’s development. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live in September, Johnson emphasized that Bronny should be getting more playing time to accelerate his growth.

“If I’m Bronny, I would tell my dad to just let me play in the G League all season so that I can develop,” Johnson said. “He needs playing time. He doesn’t need to be sitting on the Lakers bench and not playing. That’s not a knock against him.”

Johnson continued, explaining that Bronny is not yet ready for significant NBA minutes. “He needs to develop more, and then he will be ready because he has some great talent and skills, but he needs to develop those skills at a much better clip if he wants to play 15-20 minutes a night in the NBA or more.”

Bronny’s NBA Career So Far

Bronny James has played in five NBA games this season, including the historic moment where he and his father became the first father-son duo to play in the same NBA game. However, his NBA minutes have been limited, totaling just 16 minutes across those appearances, with Bronny scoring only four points on 1-of-6 shooting.

As his rookie season progresses, the focus remains on Bronny’s development, with many hoping the Lakers will adjust their strategy to provide more playing time and experience in the G League to help him grow.

Photo: Sporting News