The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their three-game losing streak with a win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Back in action on Friday night against the first seed Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers will be tested by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his talented supporting cast.
Rookie guard Bronny James, the son of Lakers star LeBron James, has missed the last five games due to a heel contusion. It has been eight games since the 55th overall pick last appeared in NBA action, but James was active and available for the first three of those.
This heel injury kept James out for the South Bay Lakers’ recent home stand that he was on a G League assignment for.
Following this five-game injury absence for James, the Lakers announced on Friday that he had been recalled from the G League.
“Lakers say they have recalled guard Bronny James from the South Bay Lakers,” Trevor Lane of Lakers Nation wrote on X.
Despite being recalled, James will miss his sixth-straight game due to injury, as the team has already ruled him out vs. Oklahoma City due to the left heel contusion. Several Lakers fans are not thrilled that James got the recall instead of two-way guard Quincy Olivari.
“Call up Olivari, this is getting ridiculous,” one fan wrote.
“Please call up Olivari,” another fan stated.
“What about Quincy?” a fan asked. “C’mon”
“Love Bronny cause we’re James fans… but as lakers fans… can we please please please… call up Quincy???” another fan asked. “This [expletive] has got to be Rob & Jeanie bro…”
“Why?” a fan questioned. “I wish they’d call up Olivari. He might actually be able to help the squad.”
Unlike James, Olivari travels with the South Bay Lakers who face the Santa Cruz Warriors at Kaiser Permanente Arena on Saturday.
In four games for South Bay this season, Olivari is averaging 23.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists. The 23-year-old guard is on a two-way contract with the Lakers, but has spent most of the season in the G League.
As for James, he has made just two G League appearances, averaging just 5.0 points in 28.5 minutes per game.