NBA executive: Bronny James not allowed to play ‘a single minute’ with Lakers in rookie season | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

A Western Conference team executive expressed the belief that Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James would be best served by spending a full season in the NBA G League.

“There’s going to be so much internal pressure on him to get out of the G League, but he shouldn’t spend a minute with the Lakers this year,” the executive told ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.

Holmes quoted another West manager who said James is a work in progress as a player.

“I think that’s where the foundation lies for a defensive-minded combo guard, but we’ve never seen it come to fruition,” they said. “We are not having this conversation with any other last name. That’s just the fact. His resume is light at best. He got here because of the last name. Now it’s time to see and judge that decision. We will I can assess it in three years, but if it doesn’t require serious, dedicated G League time, I don’t think he has a chance.”

James’ freshman year at USC never got off the ground after he went into cardiac arrest during an offseason workout. He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25 appearances and shot 36.6 percent from the field, including 26.7 percent from the perimeter.

The 6-foot-1 guard hasn’t shown much in the Lakers’ two preseason games either. In 29 total minutes, he has two points on 1-for-7 shooting, along with three rebounds, one assist, five turnovers and three blocks. .

Former ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported in July that the Lakers could let Bronny play with his father, LeBron James, early on before assigning him to the South Bay Lakers, their G League affiliate, where he would spend most of the would spend the season.

Aside from the fact that the G League is currently closer to the 20-year-old’s talent level, transferring him to the South Bay would inevitably mean a much lower level of scrutiny. His performances in the G League would draw a lot of attention, but not nearly the same level as if he were consistently benched or struggling to help Los Angeles chase a championship.

Putting Bronny and LeBron on the court together in Sunday’s 118-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns was undoubtedly a great moment, but his long-term development should be the Lakers’ top priority.