Lakers' Bronny James
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Lakers' Bronny James during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in November 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to lean on their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, as a key part of their player development pipeline.
South Bay opened a back-to-back road set against the Texas Legends on Friday, securing an impressive 127-105 victory.
The matchup featured a loaded lineup, with two-way players Drew Timme and Chris Manon both seeing action, alongside Lakers rookie Adou Thiero and NBA assignee Bronny James.
As has often been the case over the past two seasons, much of the attention centered on James and his continued growth.
Lakers Continue Bronny James Development in G League
In 27 minutes, James recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists. While he struggled with efficiency, shooting 5-of-14 from the field and 1-of-4 from three-point range, his overall impact extended beyond scoring.
His defensive versatility stood out, highlighted by two blocks and a steal.
James also made several hustle plays that did not appear on the stat sheet, including a key third-quarter sequence in which he saved the ball from going out of bounds, leading to a fast-break finish by Timme on the other end.
Entering the game, James was averaging 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists across 10 G League appearances while shooting 46.0% from the field and 29.6% from three-point range.
Although those numbers are lower than his late-season surge last year, when he averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.9 steals while shooting 38% from deep over his final 11 games, his evolving role reflects a broader focus on becoming a complete two-way contributor.
Lakers’ Bronny James Embraces Defensive Identity
James received extended NBA minutes prior to the All-Star break in a blowout loss to the San Antonio Spurs, with LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton, and Marcus Smart all sidelined.
He responded with a season-high 12 points, along with three rebounds, six assists, and a block in 25 encouraging minutes, offering a glimpse of his growing confidence and readiness.
Following the game, James emphasized that his primary focus is on defense and contributing in multiple ways.
“I’d say defensively, that’s my role that I want to excel at,” he told reporters following the Spurs game. “We have a lot of guys, Luka, LeBron, AR. Those guys can go get buckets whenever we need them. But they need guys like myself, Vando, Jake, guys who can defend.”
That mindset aligns with how NBA teams evaluate developmental prospects at the G League level. While scoring remains valuable, defensive effort, physical presence, and hustle plays often determine call-up opportunities.
Timme led the South Bay Lakers in Friday’s win with 25 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and one block while shooting 11-of-20 from the field.
Thiero also delivered an impressive performance following his recent return from injury, finishing with 19 points and seven rebounds while shooting an efficient 7-of-8 from the field in just 21 minutes.
With the win, South Bay improved to 12-8 on the season and remains firmly in the playoff picture. The team has now won two consecutive games and continues to position itself for a strong finish, with several Lakers prospects gaining valuable experience along the way.