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“Magic Johnson says Bronny James is in good hands with the Lakers,” Caruso quotes, Reaves | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

“Magic Johnson says Bronny James is in good hands with the Lakers,” Caruso quotes, Reaves | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

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Los Angeles Lakers icon Magic Johnson believes Bronny James is “in good hands” ahead of his NBA rookie season.

Johnson cited Alex Caruso and Austin Reaves as two examples of the Lakers’ ability to develop young players.

“Bronny will be next,” Johnson wrote on X on Saturday.

Earvin Magic Johnson @MagicJohnson

Basketball fans, Bronny James is in good hands with the Lakers, who are great at developing talent. Two names that I can mention recently that I have seen firsthand are Alex Caruso and Austin Reaves, both of whom are starters in the league today. Bronny will be next.

The eldest son of Lakers star LeBron James will make his NBA regular-season debut on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Caruso, who will start this season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, joined the Lakers as an undrafted free agent from Texas A&M in 2016. He then helped Los Angeles win the title in 2020.

Since joining the Chicago Bulls in 2021, Caruso has developed into one of the NBA’s strongest defenders. He was named to the All-Defensive Team in consecutive seasons with the Bulls.

Reaves, who joined the organization as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma in 2021, is now entering his second season as a starter for the Lakers after averaging 15.9 points and 5.5 points in the 2023-24 season highest of his career.

James will now look to go through a similar development process with the Lakers after the franchise selected him with the No. 55 pick of the 2024 draft.

The rookie joins the organization after playing a shortened college season at USC, where he got a delayed start after recovering from cardiac arrest.

Like Caruso, who began his career in the G League, Johnson previously said he believes James needs more time to develop before he is ready to become a full-time NBA player.

“If I were Bronny, I would tell my dad, ‘Just let me play in the G League all season so I can develop,'” the retired Lakers legend said in a September statement Look on Jimmy Kimmel Live. “He needs playing time. He doesn’t have to sit on the Lakers’ bench and not play. This isn’t a knock on him, he’s just not ready.”

“He has to develop further and then he will be ready because he has great talents and skills.”

After going 4 of 20 in his first five preseason games, James topped the Golden State Warriors with 17 points on 7 of 17 in the Lakers’ preseason finale on Friday. Now he could make his regular-season debut on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.