The Los Angeles Lakers have demoted rookie guard Bronny James after just nine games in his first NBA season without his father, LeBron James, on the roster, according to a report from Yahoo Sports on Friday.
The move comes early in the 2026-27 campaign, marking a significant moment for the 20-year-old son of the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Details regarding the nature of the demotion — whether to the G League, a reduced role, or another arrangement — were not immediately disclosed in the initial report.
Bronny James, selected 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, entered the league under immense scrutiny as the first father-son duo to play together in NBA history during the 2024-25 season. With LeBron James no longer on the Lakers roster, the younger James faced heightened expectations to carve out his own role.
Further details on the Lakers' decision and James' immediate future are expected to emerge in the coming days.
