Bronny James, the 20-year-old son of LeBron James, has officially been assigned to the Los Angeles Lakers' G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, in time for their season opener this weekend. The Lakers confirmed the move on Thursday, making Bronny part of the South Bay roster as they prepare to host the Salt Lake City Stars on Saturday night.
Bronny has already seen limited action in three games for the Lakers, scoring four points in a total of 13 minutes on the court. His historic moment came on October 22 when he and LeBron became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game during the Lakers' season opener against Minnesota. Bronny also scored his first NBA basket on October 30 in Cleveland, at the same arena where he had watched his father play as a child.
LeBron and the Lakers have made it clear that Bronny will spend significant time in the G League this season as he continues to develop his skills. Bronny’s rookie year follows a challenging period in 2023 when he survived cardiac arrest and played sparingly in his lone college season at Southern California before declaring for the NBA Draft. The Lakers selected him late in the second round.
What is the NBA G League?
The NBA G League is the official minor league of the NBA. It was rebranded in the 2017-18 season when Gatorade became its title sponsor. The league serves as a platform for player development, including coaches, officials, trainers, and staff, and is also a testing ground for experimental rules and strategies.
The 2024-25 G League season features 31 teams, with 30 of them affiliated with an NBA franchise. The South Bay Lakers, based in El Segundo, California, play their home games at the Lakers' training complex. This proximity allows Bronny to remain closely connected with the NBA team while developing in the G League.
Bronny James Contract Details
Bronny is currently on a standard NBA contract with the Lakers, which allows the team to assign him to their G League affiliate at any time during his rookie season, as long as he has less than three years of NBA service. This flexibility means that Bronny can be assigned to the South Bay Lakers as needed to gain more playing experience.
There is no limit to how many times Bronny can be assigned to the G League. While in South Bay, he will play alongside other Lakers on standard contracts, players on two-way contracts, and members of the South Bay Lakers on standard G League contracts.
Bronny signed a four-year, $7.9 million contract with the Lakers, fully guaranteed through the 2025-26 season. The third year of his contract becomes guaranteed on June 29, 2026, and the fourth year is a team option, which will become guaranteed on January 10, 2028. Below is a breakdown of his salary over the course of his contract:
- 2024-25: $1,157,153 (Age 20)
- 2025-26: $1,955,377 (Age 21)
- 2026-27: $2,296,271 (Partial Guarantee) (Age 22)
- 2027-28: $2,486,995 (Team Option) (Age 23)
All salary figures via Spotrac.
The South Bay Lakers’ 2024-25 season kicks off on November 9 against the Salt Lake City Stars, the G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz.
