Bronny James’ first NBA season continues to play out differently than that of the typical rookie.
The 20-year-old son of LeBron James is expected to play in only home games for the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers, as NBA insider Brian Windhorst referenced on Wednesday’s episode of his ESPN podcast.
And Windhorst, formerly an Ohio newspaper reporter who began covering the elder James as a high schooler more than two decades ago, disagrees with that decision.
“I’m gonna apply the brakes on my ‘everything’s fine on the Bronny front’ with this thing that’s now happening, which is that, from my understanding, he’s only gonna play in the South Bay Lakers home games,” Windhorst said on “The Hoop Collective.”
“That he’s only gonna kind of be a part-time G League player, and he’s not getting on United Airlines and going to fly and … play in these road games.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania had also reported on the Lakers’ plan last week, writing when Bronny was assigned to the G League that he was expected to play in only home games as he went back and forth between the Lakers and South Bay.
The South Bay Lakers are based in nearby El Segundo, Calif.
Windhorst contended that the plan is not beneficial for Bronny, opining it would be “much better” for the young guard’s development if he were to play in road games.
“I know he was getting somewhat special treatment and nepotism. That’s fine,” Windhorst said. “Honestly, I don’t care. … It’s normal. Now, I think it’s actually detrimental to him.”
Bronny, the eldest of James’ three children, was projected by some to be a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft before his freshman season at USC.
He suffered cardiac arrest at a USC practice in July of 2023, which required a procedure for a congenital heart defect and delayed his college debut by a little over a month. Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 25 games, including six starts, at USC.
The Lakers then drafted Bronny in the second round, with the 55th overall pick, in June’s draft.
Bronny made his NBA debut in the Lakers’ season opener on Oct. 22, checking in alongside his 39-year-old father in the second quarter of that 110-103 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. That marked the first time in NBA history that a father and son played together.
Bronny totaled four points with a rebound and two assists in 16 minutes over his six NBA appearances. He scored six points with four assists and three rebounds in his G League debut on Saturday.
