close
close

The Lakers are forcing Bronny James to make a roster change at the start of the season

Take your son to work. The day he probably gets the axe.

Following the Lakers' upcoming road trip, which runs through Nov. 6, Bronny James will begin splitting his time between the Lakers' active roster and the franchise's G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, ESPN reported Friday .

History was made this week when Bronny and LeBron James became the first father-son duo to ever share an NBA court.

But now that that's in the rearview mirror, Los Angeles seems to be taking the foresight.

In his three minutes of play in the Lakers' 110-103 season-opening win over the Timberwolves on Tuesday night, Bronny missed both shot attempts and Los Angeles lost by five points.


Bronny James is expected to spend time with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. NBAE via Getty Images

The 20-year-old didn't seem overwhelmed at the moment, but he didn't make any outstanding plays either.

In the South Bay, young James will likely have time to develop with real, meaningful minutes instead of withering away on Los Angeles' bench.


Bronny James made his NBA debut this week.
Bronny James (9) made his NBA debut alongside his father LeBron James (23) in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. NBAE via Getty Images

For his part, Bronny was open to the idea of ​​bringing his talents to the South Bay.

“I just look forward to every basketball I play,” he told reporters in July while working with the association’s other rookies at the Las Vegas Summer League. “No matter what level I play at.”

If he does his part and continues to hone his craft, Bronny wouldn't be the first second-round pick to work his way up and into the superstar stratosphere, with Knicks star Jalen Brunson being a recent example of that being a low pick a blossoming MVP candidate.

“His job is to put in the work and keep getting better, just like the rest of us,” LeBron told reporters in September, according to ESPN. “And we want to hold him accountable, and he will hold us accountable. And when we all do that, we all get better because we are all a team. We are a reflection of the South Bay; South Bay is a reflection of who we are.”