What is the best way for an NBA team to develop a young player? Keep him at the big club, let him practice with the team and be exposed to the practice habits and environment of NBA players in generally better facilities? Or take him to the G-League, where he can get a lot more time on the court, let him play through mistakes that can’t be tolerated at the NBA level, and give him targeted coaching?
The Lakers split the difference with Bronny James. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst in an episode of Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast, he said Bronny would only play home games with the South Bay Lakers. Athletics has confirmed this. Windhorst was critical of the idea.
“I don’t know whose idea it was, but the Lakers are clearly fine with it. They do it. In this particular case, I think that went too far, and I don’t think it benefits Bronny. I don’t think it benefits the South Bay Lakers, and I don’t think it benefits LeBron right now.”
Windhorst is not alone. Bronny’s status raised a few eyebrows around the league, but there was also a lot of shrugging. As in: what did you expect?
Bronny has played in one South Bay game so far, logging 31 minutes and scoring six points on 2-for-9 shooting (0-for-4 from 3), with four assists and three rebounds. According to Jovan Buha of The AthleticBronny defended well and looked better with the ball in his hands than he did in Summer League, but that’s still nowhere near the NBA rotation player he wants to be.
The development debate between the big clubs and the G-League is not one-size-fits-all; different players need different experiences to grow. Bronny comes with some unique challenges. As ESPN’s Windhorst noted, G-League teams fly commercially through the airports in those cities, and that could pose challenges with Bronny and his level of celebrity.
It’s about what’s best for Bronny. That’s all that matters. Is splitting the difference between fully in the G-League and fully with the big club the best option?
If Bronny needs time on the court to develop faster, give him time on the court and let him travel with the South Bay Lakers. If the Laker coaches truly believe that splitting time and keeping him close to home is what’s best for Bronny’s development, then they should do that. Although he is on a fully guaranteed NBA minimum contract – and will be for two more seasons – his play is not at a point where he is helping the big club right now. It won’t be there this season. Is he improving faster and getting closer to his goals by being around his dad and the big team, or is this just about keeping LeBron happy because he sees his son around the facilities and at games? None of us on the outside know the answer, but the one thing the Lakers need to prioritize is Bronny. They drafted him at number 55, and they’re paying him. They bet he can become an NBA player, and the Lakers must do whatever gets him to that goal.
For now, Bronny will split time and only be in the G-League when the South Bay Lakers are at home.
