Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James will make his road debut with the G League’s South Bay Lakers against the Valley Suns on Thursday, according to senior NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Bronny James has played in two road games for the Los Angeles Lakers
James, the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, has made seven NBA appearances with Los Angeles and three more with the G League’s Lakers. He recently played Sunday in Los Angeles’ 107-98 home win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
LeBron James, Bronny’s father, also missed his first game of the 2024-25 NBA season on Sunday, and Los Angeles doesn’t play again until Friday at Minnesota.
At practice Wednesday, Los Angeles coach JJ Redick told reporters that LeBron was not currently with the team for an “excused absence.” Redick said LeBron was “taking some time.”
Bronny James has played twice on the road thus far during the NBA season, receiving late-game minutes on Oct. 30 against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Nov. 6 versus the Memphis Grizzlies.
Thursday’s matchup will mark his first professional regular-season road game in the G League.
James scored a season-high 16 points versus the San Diego Clippers on Dec. 7
Moreover, James most recently missed about three weeks with a left heel contusion, but he made his return on Saturday in the G League against the San Diego Clippers.
James scored a season-high 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting along with four rebounds, two assists, and a block. It was his best G-League outing thus far, and his success could carry over to the NBA in the future.
Through three G-League games (all starts), he’s averaged 8.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 block, and 26.3 minutes per contest. However, the USC product is shooting just 29.4% from the field.
James will be available for some South Bay road games because “more reps are good,” said a league source. Players on two-way deals must split time between the NBA and G League.
Of course, James’ deal is a standard NBA contract, so he’s not classified as a two-way player. The 6-foot-2 guard is making $7.9 million over four years, with the first three seasons fully guaranteed.
The South Bay Lakers take on the Valley Suns at 11 p.m. ET.
