“Rob and I did not give Bronny anything.” These were the words of JJ Redick, the HC and mastermind of the LA Lakers. With his NBA debut done, Bronny James has also ticked the G League off his checklist. His debut for the South Bay Lakers has garnered the attention of people who normally wouldn’t even watch the league. Papa LeBron was there, when his 20-year-old boy suited up, earlier today. Not just him, Rob Pelinka, the Vice President of Basketball Operations, and the GM of the Lakers, was there too!

If 2 of the most important people in the Lakers weren’t enough, then D’Angelo Russell, along with his son, also graced the event. A G League game with fam, to blow some steam off being on the bench? Not bad D’Lo. Anthony Davis, who’s in contention for the MVP, was also present. Redick watched from the sidelines with his own family at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California.

Bronny James put up a show as well for his teammates/ dad’s friends. The youngster opened by scoring on a pull-up jumper from a kick-out pass by Quincy Olivari on South Bay’s opening possession. Moments later, he showcased his playmaking with a lob from the top of the key, leading to an easy dunk.

In the second quarter, he had a turnover but quickly made up for it. LeBron’s son sank a smooth floater over Oscar Tshiebwe’s reach. Although he missed a few layups, his defensive skills were evident. He executed a 2-on-1 block that set up Maxwell Lewis’s 3-pointer on the other end. Bronny James had added 4 points on 2-of-9 shooting, including 3 missed attempts from beyond the arc. Overall, in his 22 minutes on the floor, he scored 6 points and also collected 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block. What a stat line indeed!

What is the Lakers’ plan with Bronny James?

James will suit up for the South Bay Lakers until he’s called back to join the senior roster. According to the NBA’s CBA rules, teams can assign players with less than 3 years of experience to the G League at any time. As a first-year player, he is eligible for this option.

There’s no restriction on the number of times Bronny James can be assigned to the G League, although reports suggest that he’ll only take part in South Bay’s home games, where he’ll play alongside teammates on standard contracts, two-way contracts, and those on South Bay’s roster. Players like Christian Koloko and Quincy Olivari are also on the Lakers’ affiliate team’s lineup.

Lakers coach JJ Redick sees Bronny James as the “test case No. 1” for the team’s new player development program. The plan is to move Bronny back and forth between the Lakers’ main roster and the South Bay squad throughout the season.

“We’re always adjusting in real-time,” JJ Redick explained. “And moving Bronny between the Lakers and South Bay rosters has been part of our approach from the start. Rob (Pelinka) and I talked this over from Day 1, and LeBron supports it too.”

For the Lakers, Bronny James stands out as a defensive prospect with the potential to develop into a powerful on-ball defender. The young hoopster’s shown defensive playmaking promise, especially in the Summer League and the Lakers’ preseason action. His offensive role and shooting still need work, but if you’re following his journey, you can see he’s taking steps in the right direction.