Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick recently outlined his vision for the team’s No. 55 draft pick, Bronny James.
During an interview on The Lowe Post podcast, Redick emphasized the importance of the G League in developing young talent.
He stated, “We hired Zach Guthrie as our G League head coach. Zach is working on finalizing his staff.”
Redick continued, explaining that the focus is on creating “synergy and integration” between the NBA and G League teams.
He noted that the G League should not be seen as a demotion for players.
“I look at Zach as an extension of my staff, I look at that team as an extension of our team,” Redick said.
The Lakers plan to use the G League strategically, particularly for Bronny James.
“I think Bronny is a young guy, I’m very high on him as a basketball player,” Redick added.
He remarked that Bronny is “kind of like our first player that we get to mold and help develop.”
Redick views the G League as a vital tool for the Lakers’ player development system.
When asked about the possibility of Bronny playing in the season opener, Redick acknowledged its significance.
“In terms of that moment, yeah we’ve talked about it and we’ve thought about it and we’ll get it done,” he stated.
He remained cautious, saying, “I don’t want to commit to anything right now, but that’s going to happen, it’s going to happen sooner rather than later.”
Bronny’s college career at USC drew some criticism due to his modest statistics. He averaged just 4.8 points per game over 19.3 minutes, ranking as the eighth-leading scorer on his team.
This led to ongoing debates regarding the justification of his draft position. Critics have suggested that nepotism may have influenced his selection.
During the NBA Summer League, Bronny faced additional scrutiny, averaging 8.8 points per game. His shooting percentages were less than ideal, with 35.0% overall and just 15.8% from three-point range.
