“He is kind of like our first player that we get to mold and help develop.” JJ Redick has reiterated multiple times that he sees Bronny James as the primary project for the Lakers’ development program. While LeBron’s son struggled throughout the preseason, he showed in last night’s finale by scoring 17 points that there’s a lot of potential to grow. Although there are still many doubting his credibility as a player, Magic Johnson has faith in the Lakers’ program to help Bronny become a star, despite his initial claim about the rookie not being ready. The Hall of Famer even backed it by comparing him to 2 undrafted players who eventually turned it around.

In his latest tweet, the hoops legend wrote, “Basketball fans, Bronny James is in good hands with the Lakers, who are great with developing talent. Two names that I can name recently that I’ve seen firsthand are Alex Caruso and Austin Reaves, who both are starters in the league today. Bronny will be next.” Yes, both Caruso and Reaves initially went undrafted in their respective class and started their careers with the Purple and Gold franchise, and in only a few seasons, they developed into key players on the roster.

With Caruso spending his first four years in LA, he even helped the Lakers win a championship in his third season. Sure enough, he turned into a beloved star in the City of Angels and fans even nicknamed him the Bald Mamba!

Meanwhile, AR rose to superstardom last year after Rob Pelinka decided to part ways with Russell Westbrook and bumped him to the starting role. Today, Reaves is considered the future of the franchise. While Magic trusts the Lakers to help Bronny reach the same level as Reaves and Caruso, he also believes that the rookie needs time to develop.

“If I’m Bronny, I would tell my dad just let me play in the G-League all season so that I can develop. He needs playing time. He doesn’t need to be sitting on the Laker bench and not playing. That’s not a knock against him. He’s just not ready. He needs to develop more.” Well, from the looks of it, JJ Redick might have similar plans for LeBron James’ son.

JJ Redick reveals plans for Bronny James while Magic Johnson predicts a bright future after a 17-point performance

As it turns out, JJ Redick agrees with Magic’s statement and said in an interview earlier this summer, “He’s a development player. That’s how we’re looking at Bronny. He’s certainly gonna spend time with the Lakers. He will spend time as well in the G League. As we sort of build out our player development program, he is gonna be a big part of that.” So, don’t be surprised if you don’t see the younger James sharing the court with his father too often because he will likely spend a lot of time with the South Bay Lakers.

Even though Magic Johnson said that the young gun is not ready right now, the Lakers legend sees Bronny moving up the ranks, as he tweeted, “Laker Nation, I have to tell you Bronny James is going to be a really good basketball player! Last night, he showed he has a few things you simply can’t teach-high basketball IQ, athleticism, and a competitive spirit that makes him a tenacious defender! I believe after a lot of hard work this season, he’ll definitely be in the Lakers’ rotation and playing heavy minutes.”

Yes, until last night, Bronny’s highest-scoring preseason game was only 4 points. Sure enough, the hooper was getting trolled and roasted on social media daily. However, he’s finally proved himself against the Warriors. While LA got blown out, Bronny scored 17 points and had a very efficient game. From making jumpers to throwing down dunks, he showcased every move in his arsenal.

He even showed his defensive tenacity with 3 steals and even blocking a shot. Hopefully, he will continue to sharpen his skills in his rookie season and live up to expectations. Do you think Bronny’s growth trajectory could be similar to that of Reaves and Caruso?