### LeBron James Set for First Game of Season Without Bronny

On Friday night, LeBron James will step onto the court for the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Philadelphia 76ers without his son, Bronny James, by his side for the first time this season. This shift comes after Bronny was reassigned to the Lakers' G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, on Thursday.

The decision, anticipated by many, follows Bronny's sparse appearances in just three of the Lakers' first eight games. During his limited minutes on the court, Bronny managed to score a total of four points over 13 minutes of play. Despite this, the 20-year-old made history in October, when he and LeBron became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game during the Lakers' season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Bronny, who entered the NBA as a second-round pick in June, is expected to see more playing time and development opportunities in the G League. This transition aligns with the team's initial plan for Bronny to alternate between the NBA and the G League throughout the season. Lakers coach J.J. Redick confirmed this strategy, emphasizing that the move was always part of their arrangement, as discussed with both LeBron and Lakers' general manager Rob Pelinka.

Bronny's journey toward playing alongside his legendary father has faced some challenging moments. In July 2023, he experienced a significant health scare, suffering cardiac arrest during a practice session with the USC Trojans. Following this incident, Bronny underwent surgery to address a congenital heart defect and spent several months recuperating before getting clearance to play again.

Bronny James is anticipated to debut with the South Bay Lakers on Saturday against the Salt Lake City Stars in El Segundo, California. Meanwhile, LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers will continue their NBA season without him on Friday night against the 76ers at home.