Bronny James Raves About $5.9M Lakers Rookie’s “Stupid” Athleticism as Duo Dominates G League

Bronny James made his G League debut with the South Bay Lakers on Friday alongside Lakers rookie Adou Thiero. The pair looked sharp in South Bay’s win over the Santa Cruz Warriors, with Thiero stealing the spotlight as the leading scorer thanks to his explosive athleticism.

During the post-game interview, Bronny spoke on Thiero's performance, raving about his "stupid" athleticism.

"He is just stupid athletic. One of the most athletic guys I’ve been around. It's a pleasure to watch him be a dog and fly everywhere," Bronny said.

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The Lakers traded up in the 2025 NBA Draft to secure Adou Thiero, who signed a three-year, $5,949,688 deal, per Spotrac. The rookie has appeared in two games with the main roster and made his South Bay Lakers debut on Friday alongside Bronny James.

Both players were reassigned to the G League on Thursday after limited opportunities with the first team. In their first outing, Thiero scored 19 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 19 minutes, while Bronny added 15 points and 8 assists.

With the Lakers’ roster now healthy, the pair is expected to remain in the G League for the upcoming games. Bronny, who spent much of last season in the league, will use the extra minutes to stay sharp and continue developing.

The guard averaged 21.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals for the South Bay Lakers last season and will aim to replicate that success this term, while also helping Thiero settle into the team’s system

Bronny James' performance for the South Bay Lakers in his season debut raises slight concern

Bronny James made his G League debut on Friday, helping the South Bay Lakers secure a 115-95 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors at the UCLA Health Training Center. While Bronny made a strong impact with 15 points and 8 assists on 50% shooting, his -12 +/- rating raised slight concerns.

Ending the game with a -12 rating, Bronny James’ time on the court coincided with a defensive lapse for the Lakers. Although he notched three steals, he recorded zero offensive rebounds and committed three turnovers, prompting questions about his overall impact.

However, as this was his first game with the team, the guard will need time to adjust, though his performances will remain under scrutiny moving forward.

Edited by Arian Kashyap