Latest news with #SouthBayLakers
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Bronny James set for major new Lakers role amid doubts over dad LeBron's NBA future
Despite struggling as a rookie, Bronny James is set for a big sophomore season with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to one Western Conference executive. After being selected No 55 overall in last year's NBA Draft, with some obvious interference from dad LeBron James and family friend and Lakers' head coach JJ Redick, Bronny only played in 27 games and 181 big-league minutes. LeBron James' son was far from impressive as a role player, amassing 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. That's hardly worth the second-most-lucrative NBA contract of all-time for a second-round pick. Bronny spent plenty of time with the G League's South Bay Lakers, where his stats improved drastically with 21.9 points per contest and a 44.3-percent shooting percentage. The 20-year-old James is set to be part of an NBA roster for much longer in the upcoming months due to his impressive developmental-league showing. 'I don't think there's any doubt that's their plan,' the executive told Athlon Sports. 'I know the guy gets a lot of grief because of who his dad is, but we've seen a lot of tape on (Bronny) and the fact is, he was a lot better player in April than he was in October, and definitely in July.' 'He's 20 years old. He had a whole year where his development was thrown all out of whack. But he can defend the perimeter and he showed he can shoot the 3. If he can show that wasn't a fluke, he is going to start getting 10, 15 minutes a night because the team is going to feel like they can trust him.' 'I think he is going to do all that. He is going to be a regular for them next year.' The Lakers do have plenty of options after a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. Los Angeles acquired Luka Doncic last season, adding depth to the position where Bronny is best suited to play. It will be tough for Bronny to ever outgrow the influence of his father. One way to distance himself would be to raise his level of play in front of an NBA audience.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers Make Bronny James Announcement After Career-High Game
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James earned a return trip to Los Angeles after a career-best effort in the G League, but his return to the court will have to wait at least a little longer. The Lakers recalled James from the South Bay Lakers on March 26, reporter Trevor Lane noted in a post on X. The second-round rookie, the eldest son of Lakers star LeBron James, is coming off a career-high 39 points in a G League win over the Santa Cruz Warriors. Advertisement After the performance, Bronny James said he wants to prove that he belongs in the NBA and isn't just getting a free ride because of his father. 'Just that I belong out there," James said. "That's all I'm trying to prove. A lot of people say I don't, but I just come out, work every day, try to get better every day and prove myself every day.' "All the criticism that's thrown my way, it's just amazing to shut all that down and keep going.' Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) interacts with son Bronny James during the game against the Boston Celtics at the Lee-Imagn Images Bronny James will not get to prove himself just yet. After the report Wednesday morning that the rookie was being recalled from the G League, the Lakers announced on the injury report later in the day that he would be out for the team's game against the Indiana Pacers. The injury report noted that Bronny James was "with South Bay Lakers," making it unclear exactly when he would rejoin the club. Related: NBA G League Posts Strong Bronny James Message
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bronny James Dealt Unexpected News Before NBA Playoffs
If there's one thing NBA fans live for, it's postseason drama. As the Los Angeles Lakers gear up for their playoff push, whispers of roster moves and player awards have been swirling. But few expected the news drop that landed just days before tip-off. Advertisement Bronny James, the heir-apparent son of LeBron and a budding guard on a two-way contract with the South Bay Lakers, was not named to the 2024-25 All-NBA G League First Team. Despite averaging 21.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game, shooting better than 44% from the field and 38% from three, his name was absent from the five-man First Team. Despite only playing in 11 G League games this season with the South Bay Lakers, a lot of fans and analysts pencilled him in for an All-League nod. That said, the guys who did get in more than deserved it. JD Davidson finished among the league leaders for both points (25.6) and assists (7.5) per game, earning him Kia G League MVP for the 2024-25 season. Advertisement Mac McClung also finished near the top in scoring, averaging 25.7 points per game. Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9).Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Veteran floor general Malachi Flynn averaged 22.6 points, 5.4 boards, and 4.2 assists per game to lock up the other guard spot. Oscar Tshiebwe for the Salt Lake City Stars was an absolute menace on the boards, leading the league with 19.0 per game. Jaylen Nowell was the G League's deadliest shooter, dropping over 24 points per game at a blistering 46.3% from downtown. That was Bronny's competition. Even if he had competed in more than 11 G League games this season, it was always going to be an uphill battle for James. Advertisement Nevertheless, missing out is never easy, especially when your last name carries such heavyweight expectations. Related: Jimmy Butler Sends Blunt Message Ahead of Warriors-Rockets Playoff Matchup Related: Draymond Green Receives Strong Response From Cavaliers Star Amid DPOY Bid
USA Today
14-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The surprising grade JJ Redick gave Bronny James for his rookie season
The surprising grade JJ Redick gave Bronny James for his rookie season Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, has come a long way in just a handful of months. When this season started, many dismissed him as a "nepo baby" who had a spot on the Los Angeles Lakers' roster only because of his father and didn't even deserve to be in the NBA at all. The 20-year-old has been subject to tons of attention and scrutiny, but he has kept his head on straight. He has shuffled between the NBA and G league, a move many have criticized, but he still made great strides once the G League regular season began. He ended up averaging 21.9 points, 5.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals a game and shot 44.3% from the field and 38% from 3-point range in 11 regular-season games with the South Bay Lakers. JJ Redick, the head coach of the big-league Lakers, has watched the younger James traverse his rookie season, and Redick likes what he sees. Before the University of Southern California product got a rare start in L.A.'s final regular-season game on Sunday, Redick gave him an extremely high grade for the season, not necessarily for how he played but for how he has handled the whole strange situation. "I give him and A+. How he has personally handled a lot of attention, good and bad, he doesn't even break character," Redick said, via Khobi Price of the SoCal News Group. "He's the same guy every day and he doesn't allow the good attention to get to him. He doesn't allow the bad attention to get to him and he just continues to work. "I thought [coach] Zach [Guthrie] and his staff did a phenomenal job with him when he was down with the South Bay Lakers. He's improved and we saw this particularly, I went to some early games and seeing his confidence grow from October, November, to really that second part of the G League season, post Showcase, was phenomenal. And I think every time he's been on the court for us in the second half of the season, you can see that level of confidence and level of comfort. He's a guy you can tell things to and they don't let it affect their work or their attitude. I told him, I'm very high on him longterm being a part of our rotation." Sunday's game was a reminder that the younger James still isn't ready for the NBA. He shot 2-of-10 from the field and scored just four points, although he did have six assists, four steals and three rebounds in L.A.'s 109-81 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. But the narrative surrounding him is slowly changing and becoming more positive and hopeful. If he puts in lots of work this offseason, and if he is allowed to continue to develop at his own pace moving forward, perhaps he can someday become an NBA rotation player after all.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
South Bay Lakers recap: Quincy Olivari posts a triple-double in a win
The South Bay Lakers played their penultimate game of this season on Friday, and they faced the Iowa Wolves, a team that came into Friday with the worst regular-season record in the G League's Western Conference. Bronny James, who had 39 points on Monday against the Santa Cruz Warriors, didn't play on Friday, but South Bay's other guards still delivered under pressure. Advertisement This game went back and forth throughout. The Wolves got out to a 21-9 lead midway through the first quarter, but South Bay trimmed that deficit and ended the quarter down by just two points. It built a 12-point lead late in the third period, and although the Wolves fought back, it was able to hold them off for a 127-123 win. Undrafted rookie guard Quincy Olivari was the best player on the floor with a triple-double of 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, and he also blocked two shots. Fellow starting guard Grayson Murphy contributed 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, 12 assists and seven rebounds, and forward Stanley Johnson added 19 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block. Advertisement These two teams will face off again on Saturday in South Bay's final game of this season. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: South Bay Lakers recap: Quincy Olivari posts a triple-double in a win
