The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned rookie Bronny James to their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, where he is expected to make his debut on Saturday against Salt Lake City. According to sources close to ESPN, James will continue to move between the Lakers and South Bay as part of his development plan.

Before joining South Bay, James will be on the Lakers’ active roster for their game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Following that, he will rejoin South Bay to prepare for his G League appearances. Sources revealed that the organization intends for James to participate only in South Bay’s home games while he moves between the two teams.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed that this arrangement was decided from the start, explaining that the plan for Bronny to gain experience in both settings has been in place “since day one.” The goal is to provide James with structured coaching, regular game experience, and the chance to sharpen his skills in a competitive environment.

In the lead-up to the draft, James and his representative, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, discussed the G League as an essential part of his development. Sources shared that Paul advocated for a standard NBA contract for James, rather than a two-way deal, to provide him stability while also embracing the developmental process offered by the G League.

It is not unusual for players drafted in the second round, especially in the mid- to late picks, to spend time in the G League. The trend has shown to be beneficial, with 23 of the 28 players drafted in the second round in the 2023 season having played in the G League for added experience and growth.

Selected 55th overall in this year’s draft, Bronny has already appeared in four games for the Lakers, including the season opener on October 22. That game marked a historic moment as Bronny and his father, LeBron James, became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game simultaneously.