Bronny James will eventually play in at least one away game in the G League.

James, 20, the son of NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James, is scheduled to play his first road game for the South Bay Lakers against the Valley Suns on Thursday in Phoenix, a league source confirmed The athletewhich is a reversal from the previous decision for Bronny to only attend home games.

“That was the decision at the time,” said a league source with knowledge of young James’ plans, confirming multiple media reports that Bronny would indeed play in Phoenix with South Bay.

It’s been quite a day for James Family News surrounding the Lakers. At practice on Wednesday, Los Angeles coach JJ Redick told reporters that LeBron is currently not with the team due to an “excused absence.” LeBron missed his first game of the 2024-25 season on Sunday – a win over the Trail Blazers – and the Lakers don’t play again until Friday at Minnesota. Redick said that LeBron “needs some time.”

The last time James took a leave of absence from his team during the season was nearly 10 years ago, when he decided not to play in a game in Atlanta on his birthday and ended up taking two weeks off from the Cavs to keep his head to get time off and allow time for painful injuries to heal.

LeBron, who turns 40 on December 30, is average 23 points on 49.5 percent shooting, 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds. His scoring average is the lowest since his rookie season 21 years ago.

Bronny has averaged 8.7 points and 2.7 assists in three G League games this season. He played seven games with the Lakers and scored a total of four points on 1 of 8 field attempts.

A late second-round pick who missed half of his only college season at the University of Southern California last year, James will now be available for at least some away games in South Bay because “more reps is good,” the source said the league.

The same source said Bronny’s availability for away games in the G League is still selective. South Bay will play 24 home games this season – not a large chunk of games for a young player in need of experience.

When The athlete reported James’ original decision to only play home games for South Bay (which plays its games at the LA Lakers’ training facility in El Segundo, California), the door was left open for Bronny to appear in at least two away games – in Cleveland , where the Cavs have a G League team that hosts South Bay shortly after Christmas, and where James’ grandparents live.

Bronny’s contract with the Lakers is not a “two-way deal,” which is more the case with players who were drafted as low as he was or undrafted players who were drafted in their NBA Parent club are promising, but need experience in the minor classes. Players on “two-way” deals must split their time between the NBA and the G League. Bronny’s contract – worth $7.9 million over four years, with the first three seasons fully guaranteed – is an NBA contract. He takes one of the Lakers’ 15 roster spots reserved for players with NBA contracts.

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