The separation is here. The only father-son duo in the NBA has broken up on the court. It looks like the Los Angeles Lakers have settled on a timeframe to send rookie Bronny James to join their G League affiliate. But they’ll have a last dance for now, maybe together. As per ESPN, Bronny is expected to remain with the LA side for Friday’s home game against the 76ers before his G League debut on Saturday. They also reported that he will only participate in South Bay’s home games, balancing his time with the NBA.

Bronny James has been one of coach JJ Redick’s last choices off the bench this season, appearing in four games so far. The young hoopster is averaging just 3.3 minutes on the court, contributing 1.0 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game.

LeBron’s eldest son inked a four-year rookie contract with the Lakers valued at $7.9 million. He’ll take home a guaranteed $1.1 million in his first season, which will rise to $1.9 million in his second. In his third year, his salary will bump up to $2.2 million. The Lakers also hold a team option for the 2027-28 season, potentially boosting his earnings to $2.4 million.

This option gives JJ Redick and Co. control over his fourth year, allowing them to decide if they want to retain him. Should they pick up the option, Bronny James would earn another $2.4 million; otherwise, he would be released after his 3rd year.

Top 5 highest-earning G League players of all time, doesn’t Bronny James rank No. 1?

So, where does Bronny James slot in this list? Bronny has a contract with the Lakers, not with the G League, hence he does not appear on the list but given his salary he could’ve been No.1 or 2. All the players mentioned below had a Select or a two-way contract.

London Johnson, a shooting guard for Ignite, built a reputation as one of the top G League talents, boasting 10.5 points over 55 games. According to Sports Brief, he’s currently ranked as the league’s highest-paid player, earning over $1 million. Coming in at No. 2 is Sterling ‘Scoot’ Henderson. Alongside Jalen Green, the guard is considered one of the G League’s top earners. As reported by The Athletic, Scoot also received $1 million annually during his Ignite stint, before entering the NBA.

The third spot is taken by Jalen Green, formerly a guard with Ignite, who reportedly made $500k in the 2020-21 season, then went on to sign a four-year rookie deal worth $40.8 million with the Houston Rockets in August 2021. According to The Athletic, his G League earnings in the 2022-23 season reached $1 million annually!

Sharife Cooper occupies the 4th spot. In February 2024, Cooper inked a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers, following 19 games with the Cleveland Charge. His $103,550 salary places him as the Cavs’ 21st highest-paid player, 281st among guards, and 603rd across the NBA. In the 2021-22 season, the hoopster earned $462,629 on a two-way deal (half of the rookie minimum).

David Duke Jr. is currently playing for the Austin Spurs, the G League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs. In October 2021, he signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets, securing a guaranteed salary of $925,258 for the season. For 2023/24, he earned $395,708, making him the 548th highest-paid NBA player, the 251st among guards, and the 22nd highest-paid athlete on the Spurs roster.

$40,500, is that good enough to keep the talent in the USA?

G League players sign one-year contracts directly with the league, not with individual teams. They receive a flat base salary, with no minimum or maximum limits. For a five to six-month season, players earn $40,500, a significant increase from the previous $35,000. Then there are Select contract players. These contracts cater to players with top-tier skills who opt out of college. It allows them to stay in the U.S., develop their game, and earn a solid income. In the past, players who skipped college had to play overseas for a year.

Another avenue is the two-way contract. Each NBA team can have 3 two-way players, who spend most of their time in the G League and not more than 45 days with their NBA team. They must be in their fourth NBA season or earlier to qualify.

Two-way contracts allow players to play in up to 50 NBA games but exclude them from playoff participation. The salary for a two-way contract is half of the minimum rookie salary, which for the 24-25 season is $578,577.

Also, NBA teams can send players with fewer than 3 years of experience to their G League affiliates. They retain the player’s rights and can bring them back at any time. Even when assigned to the G League, players earn the salary outlined in their NBA contract.