The Los Angeles Lakers assigned Bronny James to their G League affiliate on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. The Lakers sent James and fellow guard Cameron Carr, a first-round pick, to the Coachella Valley Lakers, who open their regular season Friday at Acrisure Arena outside Palm Springs.
The move follows limited playing time to start 2026-27. James has averaged 2.4 minutes and 0.8 points in five appearances, and the Lakers have opened 7-2 with eight players averaging 23 minutes or more a night.
James spent parts of his first two professional seasons with the South Bay Lakers, and that arrangement continues in 2026-27, though the affiliate has a new name and home after relocating from El Segundo to Palm Desert. Over the past two G League seasons he averaged 18.4 points and 4.4 assists per game.
This is James’ third NBA season and his first without his father, LeBron James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent. The Lakers kept James over fellow 2024 draftee Dalton Knecht for their final roster spot. James is signed on a fully guaranteed deal through the end of the 2026-27 season, with a team option for 2027-28.
The Lakers’ Top Eight Have Not Needed a Ninth Guard
The assignment reflects the depth chart more than a judgment on James. Austin Reaves, Luka Dončić, Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jake LaRavia have each averaged at least 23 minutes through nine games.
James’ 12 total minutes this season have come in the margins of those games, never in a contested fourth quarter. The guaranteed money and the kept roster spot are the clearer signal about how the Lakers see him.
Whether James Plays in the Affiliate’s Opener Is Unsettled
The Lakers have not said whether James or Carr will appear in Friday’s opener, the first game for the relocated affiliate.
Source: NBA.com
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