Armel Traore Praises Bronny James Despite Early Career Struggles in G League

Armel Traore, a 21-year-old forward from Créteil, France, has been making a positive impact on the South Bay Lakers, the G-League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers. Recently, Traore expressed his support and admiration for his teammate Bronny James, the son of NBA legend LeBron James.

In an interview with TMZ at LAX, Traore praised Bronny James, saying, “He’s my guy. And I like everyone on the team, we’re a family.” This endorsement comes as Bronny James navigates his early career in the G League, where he has faced some efficiency issues and criticism regarding his NBA readiness.

Traore himself is on a two-way contract with the South Bay Lakers after going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft. Despite this, he remains optimistic about his opportunities, stating, “I’m blessed to be here. Just wanna keep going, it’s just the start. Every time I get my chance in the big gym, I’m showing my stuff, and in the G League, play my game.”.

The Los Angeles Lakers, who selected Bronny James with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, have a fluid plan for his development. According to head coach JJ Redick, Bronny is expected to move between the main Lakers team and the South Bay Lakers as part of his development plan.

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently 12-8 and in 6th place in the Western Conference, with upcoming games that will test the team’s and the young players’ abilities further.