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The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned rookie guard Bronny James to their G-League affiliate, reports Shams Charania. After playing in four of the team’s first eight matchups, he’ll soon make his debut with South Bay.
The plan is for James to play in only South Bay home games as he “shuttles” between the NBA and the G. This will allow the Lakers to better manage his time on each respective roster while ensuring a mix of NBA experience and G-League playing time.
The demotion has long been considered a possibility, and more likely a probability, as the team looks to ease James into his new role. After spending just one year at USC, which was hampered by a preseason cardiac arrest, development is priority No. 1 for head coach JJ Redick.
“He’s a development player, that’s how we’re looking at Bronny. Right now, what we’re looking for, is defensive ball pressure… We’re gonna develop his shot, we’re gonna develop his ball skills, he’s already got a great feel. He has a really good instinctive nature on the defensive end.”
-JJ Redick
Late last month, ESPN reported that Bronny was likely headed for the G-League in November as they kickstarted the process of splitting his time between South Bay and Los Angeles.
That time has now come.
Bronny James bettors are in shambles.
Doesn’t seem optimal for all those Bronny James rookie of the year bets. https://t.co/VQELhYxFgB
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) November 7, 2024
James had the opportunity to make an impact early in the season. He recorded four points, two assists, and a steal while shooting 16.7% from the field.
He’s largely been outshined by fellow rookie Dalton Knecht, who’s made one start and is averaging 6.8 points and 17.3 minutes a game.
Bronny James didn’t do enough to convince the coaching staff to keep him on the everyday roster. That’s detrimental to his rookie of the year aspirations.
James was the most-bet NBA player to win the award this offseason. That came despite his longshot odds that ranged anywhere from 250-1 to 1,000-1.
More bets have been placed on Bronny James to win Rookie of the Year (ROY) than any other player at multiple sportsbooks. James has attracted nearly one in four of the bets placed on the ROY market at ESPN BET.
-ESPN
Through eight games, he’s not the best rookie on his own team. The pending demotion will only further damage his RoY stock.
That’s sounding like a lot of wasted money for NBA bettors.