Bronny James makes G League debut in South Bay Lakers’ blowout win

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Bronny James made his much-anticipated G League debut for the South Bay Lakers on Saturday night, posting six points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals, one block and five turnovers in 31 minutes in the Lakers’ 110-96 blowout win over the Salt Lake City Stars at the UCLA Health Training Facility.

James made two of his nine shot attempts, missing all four of his 3-point looks. He went 1-for-1 at the free throw line. The Lakers were outscored by one point with James on the floor.

“It felt pretty good to go out there and just play my game,” James said. “Not much difference. I was just playing basketball. It felt good.”

James looked more comfortable with the ball in his hands than he did in Summer League or earlier in the season, with both of his baskets coming from off-the-dribble jumpers. He still has a ways to go as a shooter, but he’s increasingly become more assertive. Defensively, he pressured ballhandlers, was active in passing lanes and seamlessly switched screens on and off the ball.

“I think he did a great job dictating on the ball,” South Bay Lakers coach Zach Guthrie said. “He got the first bucket of the game. I drew up the first play for him, but we didn’t get to run it because they won the tip. … He played great, he played unselfishly, he played within the flow of the game.”

The hype entering the game was unlike most — if any — G League games. The game sold out more than 48 hours in advance, with resale tickets starting at $200 and the arena filled to capacity with 676 attendees. The reason was obvious: The lone jersey being sold in the concourse was Bronny’s golden No. 9 Lakers jersey. The arena’s eyes were on his every move.

The courtside crowd included most of Bronny’s immediate family — his father, LeBron, his mother, Savannah, his younger sister, Zhuri and his grandmother, Gloria — along with teammates Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell, Lakers coach JJ Redick and Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka.

“I mean, this doesn’t normally happen after a G League game,” said Salt Lake City Stars coach Steve Wojciechowski. “Obviously, with Bronny there’s a boatload of excitement and there should be. It’s one of the great stories in basketball. He and his family, I know them incredibly well. … His story is bringing attention not just to South Bay, but the league in general and for the guys who play in the league.”

James was introduced last during the starting lineup introductions — often the spot reserved for the biggest star or best player — and drew the loudest ovation of the evening. The 20-year-old guard started at small forward as the Lakers opened with a three-guard lineup.

“To have Bronny out there looking like how we did, I was just happy to see him get out there and show the world that he can play,” Lakers two-way guard Quincy Olivari said. “I think I’m a big advocate on pushing that he’s a great basketball player and that the criticism he gets is unfair. But to see him go out there, have fun … it was just great to see.”

Bronny James wins G League debut as South Bay Lakers dominate Salt Lake City Stars: Live updates and reaction

James, the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has appeared in five of the Lakers’ nine games, averaging 0.8 points (on 16.7-0.0-100.0 shooting splits), 0.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.2 steals in 2.8 minutes per game.

He has frequently drawn “We want Bronny!” chants this season, both at Crypto.com Arena and at road games. James’ first NBA appearance came during opening night on Oct. 22 in Los Angeles, where he and LeBron shared the court for a stint that lasted less than three minutes but made them the first father-son duo in NBA history to play together. In James’ second appearance, on Oct. 30 in Cleveland, he scored his first basket after the hometown crowd chanted his name and erupted in celebration when he entered the game.

Redick has referred to James as “test case No. 1” for the organization’s new player development program. The Lakers’ plan is for James to shuffle between the official Lakers’ roster and the South Bay roster during the season.

“Our plans are always fluid based in real-time,” Redick said. “You base things in real-time. And the plan for Bronny to move between the Lakers roster and the South Bay roster, that’s always been the plan since Day 1. Rob and I have talked about that. LeBron’s talked about that.”

The South Bay Lakers play again on Nov. 15 against the Santa Cruz Warriors.

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(Photo: Adam Pantozzi / NBAE via Getty Images)