Andy Backstrom Contributing writer Thu, November 5, 2026 at 10:12 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bronny James made the Los Angeles Lakers' 2026-27 opening night roster, securing a spot while his draft classmate, first-round pick Dalton Knecht, was waived.
But after James averaged 2.4 minutes in five appearances amid the Lakers' 7-2 start, the team announced Thursday that it assigned the 2024 second-round pick to the G League's Coachella Valley Lakers.
Fellow guard Cameron Carr was also sent to the franchise's G League affiliate ahead of its Friday night season opener against the Utah Jazz's Salt Lake City Stars.
Bronny James — in his first season in the Lakers' organization without his father, LeBron James — previously spent time in the G League, where his stat lines have often dwarfed those he has authored in the NBA.
Across a combined 25 regular-season games the past two seasons with the then-South Bay Lakers — who have since relocated and rebranded — Bronny James posted 18.4 points, 4.4 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 49.6% from the field, including 41.3% from beyond the arc.
James, now 22, was the No. 55 pick when he was drafted out of USC more than two years ago. He appeared in 27 regular-season games with the Lakers as a rookie, making father-son history but struggling mightily at times, particularly early on.
He made noticeable progress in Year 2, taking the court for 42 regular-season games and raising his field-goal percentage from 31.3% (2024-25) to 40.9% (2025-26) and his 3-point percentage from 28.1% (2024-25) to 38.6% (2025-26).
Head coach JJ Redick saw enough from James to include him in his playoff rotation last season, albeit a shorthanded one.
That paved the way for additional excitement and milestones .
Coming into Year 3, the question was: How would James fare without his superstar father on the Lakers ( including how would he be treated by staff and teammates in the absence of the future Hall of Famer )?
But James hasn't been given much of an opportunity in the regular season to make any kind of jump. In his sparing minutes, he scored 0.8 points per game. He attempted only three field goals and made two of them.
James could wind up back with the Lakers soon, but his lack of on-court involvement so far isn't promising, in terms of his chances of carving out the long-term 3-and-D role he teased on occasion last season.
As for Knecht, he ended up signing a two-way deal with the New York Knicks , for whom he logged 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, plus seven rebounds, on Wednesday in a win over the Chicago Bulls.
Source: Sports
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