Charles Barkley criticizes Lakers for limiting Bronny James' playtime
- Bronny James has played only six games for the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 2.7 minutes per game.
- The Lakers decided to restrict his playtime to home games due to potential security concerns during travel.
- Charles Barkley has criticized this handling, arguing that it is unfair to Bronny and detrimental to his development.
In recent weeks, Bronny James has participated in only six of the Los Angeles Lakers' first 16 games, averaging a mere 2.7 minutes per game. The Lakers have opted to allow him to play exclusively in home games with their G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, which has raised eyebrows among analysts and fans alike. Charles Barkley has publicly condemned this strategy, labeling it unfair to both Bronny and the team, as he believes that James won't improve sitting on the bench. Barkley highlighted the challenges of developing young players without consistent playing time, especially given Bronny's limited exposure this season. The Lakers have yet to provide official reasons for this approach, though speculation around security concerns during travel has arisen. Despite criticism, both head coach JJ Redick and LeBron James support the decision, suggesting that this limited playtime is part of a long-term developmental strategy for Bronny.