The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a strong start to the 2024-25 season, posting a 10-6 record with Thanksgiving just around the corner. As expected, Bronny James, the son of LeBron whom the Lakers drafted with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, was away from the court for most of the inaugural season. After making his first appearance with his father on opening night, the 20-year-old guard played a total of 12 minutes and 26 seconds; His only chance at serious playing time will come in the G-League.

However, the Lakers have a strange plan for Bronny in the lower level. After the South Bay Lakers started their season, it was reported that the younger James would only play in home games in the G-League. It’s a strange decision that Charles Barkley has major problems with.

Talk about the Bettor Angle On the podcast, Barkley criticized the Lakers and LeBron for greenlighting the plan, calling it “stupid” and a “bad look” for players and franchise.

“This thing where he only plays home games? That’s stupid,” Barkley said. “It’s not fair to him. It’s not fair to the team. Can you imagine the coach of this team? You come back from a road trip and there’s a player you haven’t seen in a week or two. And then you feel like you. “I probably have to play against him. I don’t think they’re doing Bronny any favors and they just handled it badly and I honestly think – I really like everything LeBron has done – in my opinion it’s a bad look for him.

It actually has a detrimental effect on Bronny’s development. The Lakers are doing everything they can to win games this year, and everyone agrees that the younger James isn’t ready to help win basketball. So it stands to reason that LA would work to ensure he gets playing time in South Bay anyway. Instead, the organization just lets Bronny dip half a toe in the water before retiring him to sit on the bench until the game is very, very out of reach one way or another.

In two games so far for the South Bay Lakers, James averaged five points and three assists in 28.5 minutes per game.