LOS ANGELES – When the Los Angeles Lakers chosen Bronny James with the No. 55 total decide within the 2024 NBA Draft, the plan was at all times for him to spend most of his rookie season getting reps within the G League with the South Bay Lakers.
Thus far, Bronny James has appeared in 11 video games for the South Bay Lakers throughout each the Showcase Cup portion of the schedule and the common season.
Through the Lakers’ latest street journey, Bronny obtained his first significant NBA minutes within the crew’s 118-104 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He got here in throughout the first quarter and drew an extremely robust defensive project in Tyrese Maxey.
He could have struggled in these minutes, however since then, Bronny hit his first profession NBA three-pointer and had one other strong outing with South Bay. Whereas within the G League, he has been in a position to play off-ball minutes as nicely whereas paired up with Quincy Olivari within the backcourt.
Following South Bay’s most up-to-date recreation on Monday, James spoke about how his off-ball recreation is growing up to now.
“It’s nonetheless a piece in progress. Day-after-day I’m simply making an attempt to get higher,” James mentioned. “I’m simply being open to new positions, new alternatives and simply preserve making an attempt to get higher day-after-day.”
Bronny James and Quincy Olivari as South Bay backcourt
Whereas with South Bay, James’ teammate within the backcourt is Quincy Olivari, his former Lakers teammate. Olivari earned a two-way contract with the Lakers following a robust preseason exhibiting, however was minimize final month after the crew signed Trey Jemison.
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Each Bronny James and Quincy Olivari are succesful ball-handlers and playmakers and within the G League they’ve been in a position to play off each other and each get reps on shifting with out the ball.
Following South Bay’s most up-to-date recreation, Olivari spoke about sharing the backcourt with James.
“It’s been an amazing dynamic. He attracts a lot consideration along with his means to get downhill that it makes it simpler for me to get a catch and shoot soar shot,” Olivari mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s additionally enjoyable as a result of he’s so explosive and so athletic that his first step, it causes my defender to assist, or folks should respect my soar shot so it causes my defender to play up increased.”
“Enjoying off of that, and with the ability to exist and produce at a excessive stage, it’s enjoyable to be on the market and do,” Olivari continued.
Whereas Olivari will likely be with South Bay full-time for the foreseeable future, James has been shuffling backwards and forwards between the G League and the Lakers. He not too long ago performed in opposition to the Clippers on Tuesday, a day after enjoying with South Bay. And he was in uniform in opposition to the Golden State Warriors, proper be for being reassigned to the G League.
However it doesn’t matter what, he approaches each alternatives the identical. Whether or not it’s the NBA or the G League, he’s appears to be like at it the identical approach.
“I really feel like it might be the identical. I’m gonna come out and provides the identical effort in each recreation,” James mentioned. “So it doesn’t matter whether or not I’m within the G League or with the Lakers, it’s the identical factor.”