Lakers Send Bronny James Back to G League as LeBron Highlights His Progress

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially reassigned Bronny James to the G League, a move confirmed on Saturday after the young guard did not play in the team’s 129-119 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The decision, first noted by reporter Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times, sends Bronny back to the South Bay Lakers, where he previously appeared in two developmental games earlier this month.

Head coach JJ Redick stuck with a nine-player rotation on Friday, relying on Jake LaRavia, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber to anchor the bench as the Lakers secured the top spot in Western Conference Group B of the NBA Cup. With the stakes rising, Redick looked for stability and continuity.

Bronny has averaged 11 points and eight assists across his G League outings, showing both promising playmaking and defensive energy while also dealing with turnovers and streaky shooting. In his NBA minutes, he is averaging 1.9 points, 1.7 assists and 0.8 rebounds in just over 10 minutes per game across eleven appearances.

On the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast, LeBron James spoke at length about Bronny. He told his listeners that he is proud of the defensive effort Bronny has shown and described how rewarding it has been to watch him grow more confident after building rhythm in last year’s G League stretch and carrying that into Summer League.

LeBron also pointed out that the more minutes a young player gets, the more they are able to adapt. He felt Bronny handled early season responsibilities with poise, even when thrust into meaningful late game moments.

During the first 14 games of the season, when LeBron was sidelined with sciatica, Bronny made the most of unexpected opportunities in wins over the Miami Heat and the Portland Trail Blazers. Redick kept him on the floor late, and Bronny responded with controlled passing and strong defensive possessions.

In the Portland matchup, he handed out six assists without committing a turnover. Lakers legend James Worthy publicly noted that it may have been Bronny’s strongest performance to date. LeBron later echoed that sentiment and said Bronny showed real toughness in those back-to-back games.

LeBron added that while he can share his perspective, the responsibility of building a career belongs to Bronny. He explained that he can offer guidance, but his son has to learn firsthand through his own experiences.

After scoring 15 points with eight assists, four rebounds and three steals in his first South Bay game, Bronny spoke to reporters about his developmental plan. He explained that he is working on off ball skills because the main roster has several primary ball handlers. He said JJ Redick emphasized learning how to be effective without dominating possessions, taking open shots quickly and reducing hesitation.

Redick also stressed quicker decisions, improved movement and avoiding dribbling into crowded areas. Bronny expressed that these details will be the core of his growth during his time in the G League.