Nationwide — When the Los Angeles Lakers chosen Bronny James, the 20-year-old son of LeBron James, with the fifty fifth choose within the 2024 NBA Draft, expectations had been combined. Whereas some assumed he would spend most of his rookie season growing within the G League, the Lakers shocked many by signing him to a assured contract and preserving him on the NBA roster to start out the season. Notably, Bronny is the highest-paid participant within the G League making greater than $1 million however at the moment, he ranks 330th out of 336 gamers in efficiency metrics.
Based on Bro Bible, after struggling in his preliminary NBA video games, the place he appeared out of sync, the Lakers reassigned Bronny to their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. Nevertheless, the transfer got here with a novel association: Bronny would solely play house video games for South Bay, rejoining the NBA roster when the G League crew traveled.
Bronny has since made two appearances for South Bay, however his performances have been removed from promising. In his debut on November 9, he scored simply six factors on 22% taking pictures. His second outing didn’t fare a lot better, as he completed with 4 factors on 2-of-10 taking pictures, together with two rebounds, two assists, and a block, in a 127-122 loss.
South Bay head coach Zach Guthrie provided a candid evaluation of Bronny’s early struggles. “It’s about competing at a excessive stage and taking part in the precise method,” Guthrie defined. “We have to elevate our collective depth on the ball. It’s laborious if you haven’t performed at a excessive stage your complete life. You must study to be bodily, dictate the tempo, and adapt to fashionable offenses. Within the G League, there are not any days off; each possession issues.”
Bronny’s difficulties stand in stark distinction to gamers like Mac McClung, the 2024 G League MVP and two-time NBA Dunk Contest champion. Even McClung, regardless of his success within the G League, has struggled to safe a everlasting spot on an NBA roster, highlighting the uphill battle Bronny faces in his skilled growth.