Lakers’ Bronny James Makes G League Debut; ‘excited’ to play

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Ever since Bronny James was selected as the No. 55 of the Los Angeles Lakers back in June, the organization scheduled Saturday’s start of the South Bay Lakers’ season.

While the South Bay’s 110-96 win over the Salt Lake City Stars at the franchise’s practice facility couldn’t match the aura of NBA opening night at Crypto.com Arena, the 20-year-old guard is spending the time getting reps in the G League. will undoubtedly be more decisive for his development.

It took James just 43 seconds for him to score his first G League points — getting a 17-foot jumper along the baseline.

“I just got a bucket,” Bronny said after the game. “It came to me and I just … yeah. I didn’t miss.”

He finished with 6 points on 2-for-9 shooting (0-for-4 from 3), 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block and 5 turnovers in 31 minutes — loosely mirroring his production as a freshman at USC (4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists) and during the Lakers’ preseason (4.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists).

Lakers two-way guard Quincy Olivari, who led South Bay with 28 points and assisted on Bronny’s first basket, credited the rookie’s performance despite the relatively pedestrian stat line.

“I was just happy to see him get out there and show the world that he can play,” Olivari said. “I think I’m a big proponent of pushing that he’s a great basketball player and that the criticism he’s getting is unfair.”

South Bay coach Zach Guthrie, hired in the offseason to replace Dane Johnson, pointed to Bronny’s defense as a bright spot.

“I think he did a great job dictating the ball,” Guthrie said. “He played great, he played unselfish, he played within the flow of the game. And I thought, like all of our guards, we defended at a high level. We talked about dictating. They weren’t comfortable in their offense.”

The amount of attention that being the son of LeBron James has generated for the rookie so far – “We want Bronny!” chants are already a nightly event during the Lakers’ road games this season — followed him to the South Bay. His gold no. 9 Lakers uniform with “James Jr.” on the back was the only jersey for sale in the team shop. And when the South Bay starters were introduced by the announcer, Bronny was saved for last — an accolade usually reserved for a team’s star.

Not to mention, Lakers coach JJ Redick, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and teammates Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell all showed up in the courtside seats, joining his parents — LeBron and Savannah — and his younger sister, Zhuri.

“It’s one of the great stories in basketball,” Salt Lake coach Steve Wojciechowski said. “When you see him out there, it’s exciting. It’s exciting for the G League and it brings eyes to our league. And we have one of the best leagues in the world. Maybe the third best league in the world after the NBA and the EuroLeague And these are truly the future stars of the game. His story brings attention not only to the South Bay, but to the league in general and to the guys who play in the league.

South Bay sold out the game – about 700 tickets – after only five sellouts in 24 home games last season.

“I’ve seen all the buzz from me on the way to G,” said Bronny. “It’s just a great experience for me to go out and play my game and get some minutes under me. I’m just excited about it.”

Bronny will be with the Lakers on Sunday for their game against the Toronto Raptors. South Bay’s next game is Friday on the road against the Santa Cruz Warriors. They play again in El Segundo next Sunday against the Stockton Kings.

Joey Buss, South Bay’s president and CEO, said Bronny’s schedule going forward — shuffling between the Lakers and the G League — isn’t set in stone.

“It’s fluid,” Buss told ESPN. “We’re going to do what’s best for his development. There’s going to be a lot of things we do for all the assigned players and decisions are made based on where they are, based on injury status, based on how many bodies they have need practice There are many variables So, nothing unique to Bronny.