Magic Johnson Praises Lakers' Bronny James Development Plan

The Hall of Fame point guard's assessment appears increasingly accurate as Bronny finds his rhythm in the G League. The younger James continued his December surge Thursday at the Winter Showcase, posting 16 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals in South Bay's 98-90 loss to Greensboro.

This performance follows his career-high 30-point outburst against the Valley Suns last Friday. Through December, the No. 55 pick is averaging 20.7 points, showing the development the Lakers hoped to see when they expanded his G League exposure beyond just home games.

While Bronny has appeared in seven NBA games - including a historic moment as the first son to play alongside his father - his G League numbers (14.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists) suggest that he's growing comfortable at the professional level. He'll look to build on this momentum Saturday when South Bay faces the Osceola Magic in their second Winter Showcase matchup.

Johnson, who remains a valued voice among Lakers faithful, sees these G League reps as crucial stepping stones toward Bronny's NBA future. After a sluggish start to his rookie season, the 20-year-old's recent play suggests Magic's timeline for his development might be right on target.