The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned rookie Bronny James to their G League affiliate, South Bay, and sources told ESPN he is expected to debut for the team on Saturday against Salt Lake City.

James will be on the Lakers’ roster for Friday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers and will then return to the South Bay, according to sources.

The organization’s current plan is for James to play only in G League home games while shuttling between the Lakers and South Bay, sources said.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said last month that the “plan for Bronny to move between the Lakers and South Bay has always been the plan since day one.”

As James and his representative, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, discussed the development during his pre-draft process with NBA teams, sources told ESPN that the concept of G League play was welcome. These sources said Paul advocated for a standard contract – and not a two-way deal – before the draft, while making clear that he and James were completely open to the development process.

Players drafted in the mid to late second round typically spend time in the G League, where they receive coaching, reps and structure in their respective teams’ programs. During the 2023-2024 season, 23 of the 28 players selected in the second round of the 2023 draft spent time in the G League.

James, the 55th selection in this year’s draft, has appeared in four games for the Lakers this season.

One of them came in the Lakers’ season opener on Oct. 22, when he and LeBron made history by becoming the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game at the same time.