Lakers send Bronny James to G League as minutes vanish in third season

The Lakers assigned Bronny James to their G League affiliate on Thursday, sending the 22-year-old guard to the Coachella Valley Lakers after he averaged 2.4 minutes and 0.8 points in five appearances during Los Angeles’ 7-2 start, ESPN reported.

James has been productive in the G League. Across 25 games the past two seasons with the South Bay Lakers, the affiliate that was rebranded and relocated to Palm Desert this year, he averaged 18.4 points on 49.6% shooting, including 41.3% from 3, with 4.4 assists and 4.0 rebounds. Yahoo Sports noted that those stat lines “have often dwarfed those he has authored in the NBA.”

This is James’ first season in the Lakers’ organization without his father, LeBron James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency. The younger James made the opening night roster over first-round pick Dalton Knecht, who was waived and signed a two-way deal with the Knicks.

But the opportunity has not followed the roster spot. James has attempted three field goals all season and made two. Coach JJ Redick included him in his playoff rotation last season, when James raised his shooting percentage from 31.3% as a rookie to 40.9% in Year 2 and his 3-point percentage from 28.1% to 38.6%. None of that has carried into Year 3.

Coachella Valley opens its season Friday at home against the Salt Lake City Stars. Rookie Cameron Carr was also assigned to the affiliate.

What the coverage missed

ESPN’s report is straightforward transaction news. Yahoo’s goes further, pointing out that James’ lack of involvement “isn’t promising, in terms of his chances of carving out the long-term 3-and-D role he teased on occasion last season.” Both treat the assignment as routine.

It is not routine, or at least not for a player the Lakers chose to keep over a first-round pick. Knecht, the 17th overall selection in 2024, was waived so the Lakers could keep James. Knecht then signed with the Knicks and logged 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting with seven rebounds in his first game. The Lakers made a bet on James over Knecht, and through five appearances James has three field goal attempts.

The G League numbers are real. James can play at that level. But the jump from G League starter to NBA rotation player is the hardest one in basketball, and the Lakers have not given him a chance to make it. He is 22 and in his third professional season. At some point the developmental label stops covering for a lack of minutes.

What I think

The Lakers are 7-2 and do not owe James playing time they do not think he has earned. Redick is trying to win games, and James has not forced his way into the rotation.

But the Lakers chose to keep James over Knecht, and that decision looks worse every time Knecht produces in New York. If James is a G League player, the Lakers should have kept the first-round pick. If he is an NBA player, they should play him. The middle ground, where he sits on the end of the bench and gets sent down for G League reps, is the outcome you get when a roster decision is made for reasons that have nothing to do with basketball.