Bronny James scores 6 points in first G-League game as LeBron, Lakers teammates watch


At a glance

  • James started and scored six points on Saturday, Nov. 9, as the South Bay Lakers defeated the Salt Lake City Stars 110-96.


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Bronny James' G League debut in many ways mirrored his first couple months with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He's trying to find his role.

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South Bay Lakers guard Bronny James dribbles against Salt Lake City Stars forward Jason Preston, right, during the first half of an NBA G League basketball game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in El Segundo, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
 

James started and scored six points on Saturday, Nov. 9, as the South Bay Lakers defeated the Salt Lake City Stars 110-96.

“I haven’t been with the team as much as I can to figure out what my role is on that team. So I’m just going out and playing my game and just hooping,” James said.

James — the 20-year-old son of LeBron James — was 2 of 9 from the field, including 0 of 4 on 3-pointers. The 6-foot-3 guard also had three rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

He was added to South Bay's roster on Thursday, after the Lakers completed a five-game road trip.

Saturday marked the most action Bronny has had in a game since the Lakers’ preseason finale against Golden State on Oct. 18, when he played 35 minutes and scored 15 points.

“I think he did a great job dictating on the ball. He got the first bucket of the game ... He played great, he played unselfishly, he played within the flow of the game,” South Bay coach Zach Guthrie said. “And I thought, like all our guards, we defended at a high level.”

LeBron watched the game from courtside seats on the opposite side of the main stands with his wife, Savannah, and their 10-year old daughter Zuri. Gloria James, Bronny’s grandmother, also was in attendance, along with Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka.

LeBron and Lakers coach J.J. Redick have said repeatedly Bronny will spend ample time this season in the G League as he works on his game.

Bronny has played in five games for the Lakers, scoring four points in 14 combined minutes of action. He was in for the final 1:28 of the Lakers 116-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night.

LeBron and Bronny made NBA history on Oct. 22 when they became the first father and son to play together during the Lakers’ season-opening win over Minnesota.