Nearly a month into the NBA season, the biggest topics of discussion are the high number of injuries to All-Star players, the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers (15-0), the resurgence of the Golden State Warriors (10-2) led by Stephen Curry, and the strong start of the Los Angeles Lakers powered by “The King” LeBron James and MVP favorite Anthony Davis. As for the Lakers, there’s another story that’s making headlines – yes, you guessed it, Bronny James’ involvement with the team.

Coach Guthrie On Bronny’s Development

Bronny James, is overcoming early struggles in his inaugural G League season with the South Bay Lakers. While the team is off to a good 2-0 start, highlighted by the stellar play of Quincy Olivari, Bronny’s transition has been marked by growing pains.

I think it has a lot to do with the special treatment he gets for being Lebron’s son, maybe mentally that is weighing heavily on Bronny. In his second game against the Stockton Kings, Bronny scored just 4 points on 2-of-10 shooting, while adding 2 assists, 2 rebounds and a block in 25 minutes. Despite flashes of potential, he has yet to find consistency. According to reports this is what the coach said:

It’s about competing at a high level and playing the right way. We need to raise our collective intensity on the ball. It’s hard when you haven’t played at a high level your whole life, you have to learn to be physical, dictate the pace, and adapt to modern offenses. In the G League, there are no days off; every possession matters.

South Bay Lakers head coach Zack Guthrie emphasized the learning curve Bronny faces, citing the need for physicality, pace control, and adjusting to the intensity of the professional level. “In the G League, every possession counts,” is what struck me most about what he said, perhaps referring to Bronny not having the same intent on every play, which is extremely necessary for the NBA, but he also noted, expressing confidence in Bronny’s ability to adjust over time.

Quincy Olivari Steals Spotlight in South Bay’s Hot Start

Meanwhile, Olivari has emerged as the team’s leader, delivering a 24-point performance against Stockton, shooting efficiently from the field and the free-throw line. His leadership and balanced play have helped the South Bay Lakers establish early momentum, positioning the team as a strong contender this season while Bronny continues to adapt. It’s almost obvious that he wasn’t ready for the NBA but he had the levers to get where he is, so let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.

This good play by Olivari lets coach J.J. Redick know that he has a great player who could be a part of the rotation soon, of course he needs to keep up this level for a few more games before he moves up to the first team. He could be a great element for the future like Dalton Knecht and the already proven Austin Reaves and yes why not Bronny James, who I still have hope for as he’s the son of the GOAT.