Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard Bronny James was recalled to the South Bay Lakers on Sunday, just ahead of their matchup with the Stockton Kings. With the game being played at the UCLA Health Training Center, it meant that James would suit up.
Los Angeles has been having James only play in home games for the South Bay Lakers, a move that's been widely criticized. But the team feels that this is the best course of action for the young guard at this time.
James played in 25 minutes for South Bay against the Kings. He scored just four points, grabbed two rebounds, dished out two assists, blocked one shot, and committed one turnover.
It was another tough offensive game for James, continuing a trend throughout his time in the league. But his defensive instincts were on display, something that James has been praised for heavily.
Even if he didn't do much on the court, it was just about getting him more reps. The Lakers know that James isn't ready to be a full-time NBA player yet so they are trying to allow him time to grow his game.
ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst doesn't believe that James will factor into the big league rotation at all. But if he ever does make it, he will have to earn more than just garbage minutes with the team.
"He's not a roster player, so their plans for him are not to be a roster player, not to be a rotational player unless he earns that, and the way he's going to earn that is not by playing garbage minutes; he's going to earn that, in my opinion, by going and playing in the G League," Windhorst concluded.
The Lakers have planned to have him shuffle back and forth between the G League and the NBA as they work through his progression. Having him not play in all G League games is certainly a choice by Los Angeles but they seem to have a plan in place.
James will need to show the Lakers that he deserves to stay with the big league team. So far, he has looked out of place but the team believes that he can become an impactful player at the NBA level down the line.
For now, they will give him space to grow his game but the Lakers won't be able to wait around forever.
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