Was it the right decision for the LA Lakers to demote Bronny James to the G-League?

The Los Angeles Lakers have split up their family ties after sending Bronny James to the South Bay Lakers, the G League affiliate team for LA.

Bronny played small minutes in four of LA's NBA games this season, and he's expected to make his debut against the Salt Lake Stars in front of a sell-out crowd.

LeBron James and Bronny James created history in the NBA season opener, becoming the first father-son duo to play in the NBA together.

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Bronny and LeBron entered the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with four minutes left in the second quarter and were greeted by a huge ovation from the LA crowd.

According to The Guardian, LeBron said: "That moment, us being at the scorer's table together and checking in together, it's a moment I'm never going to forget."

The pair played just under three minutes together on the floor, with Bronny picking up one rebound and missing a couple of jump shots.

Bronny James may be the most scrutinized NBA rookie since his dad, LeBron James, entered the NBA in 2003. However, is the scrutiny and criticism justified? And is it right he's been sent to the G-League?

After being selected as the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny had struggled to make an impact on the Los Angeles Lakers roster in the preseason.

James' first chance to make an impression was at the Las Vegas Summer League tournament against fellow rookies and G-League players. Unfortunately, he failed to make a substantial impact, averaging 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and one assist.

After starting the Summer League with a measly eight and two points, Bronny finished the Las Vegas tournament with an improved 12 and 13 points, heading into the preseason with the actual Lakers roster.

Since joining up with his dad, LeBron James, Bronny played in six preseason games for the Los Angeles Lakers, and his numbers don't support keeping him in the Lakers' rotation.

Bronny struggled significantly in his first three preseason games, shooting one of eleven from the field in 35 minutes. In his fourth game against Golden State, the 20-year-old played nine minutes, hitting one of five attempts from the field.

In his final two preseason games, Bronny scored four points in 17 minutes against Phoenix, before finishing the preseason with 17 points and four rebounds in a 132-74 blowout loss to Golden State.

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Numbers don't lie, and it's clear that Bronny James is not ready to make the 15-man roster in Los Angeles. One former Laker believes he's been allowed to 'coast' because his dad is LeBron James.

According to Sports Illustrated, former number-one pick Kwame Brown said: "He's not a very good shooter yet. He sucks. Well, he would have had a better go at it if he did those two things – run the floor for layups and get into the heart of the defense."

"He doesn't have an offensive rhythm right now, so be young. Nobody can control your ability to run. But I see a kid just coasting because he has a guaranteed contract. Anybody else in that position would be cut."

Undoubtedly, no other 55th pick has received more scrutiny or criticism than Bronny James. Before the draft, he was viewed as a project in which he would become the player they wanted him to be in a few years.

According to AP News, the Lakers may have to cut their losses on Bronny James now because the odds of a 55th pick making any sizeable contribution to the NBA are incredibly slim.

Out of the last 30 NBA Drafts, only two number 55 picks have scored over 1500 points in the NBA. One is Patty Mills, and the other is E'Twaun Moore.

Only eleven of those picks have scored more than 100 points in the NBA, and 13 of the 30 have precisely zero points in the league. Furthermore, a third of the picks didn't even get into a game.

Despite the sufficient evidence that he should be cut from the roster, he has likely made it due to the nature of his contract and the long-term vision they have for him.

James signed a four-year contract that was fully guaranteed through the first two seasons. It is unlikely the Lakers would suffer the cap hit associated with cutting a player with Bronny's guaranteed contracts.

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The main factor in keeping Bronny James on the roster is keeping LeBron James motivated and happy with the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite being 39, James performs at an All-NBA level and can still dictate games down the stretch.