This season has been quite eventful for Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James, the son of Lakers star LeBron James. With his father’s fame comes significant scrutiny regarding his place in the NBA.
Many people have questioned whether Bronny James deserves to be in the NBA or if he received preferential treatment due to his father’s legacy. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has been particularly vocal, stating back in November that LeBron’s son doesn’t belong in the NBA.
Bronny James was the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and has spent much of his time playing in the G League, where he has excelled. He is averaging 22.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, shooting 46% from the field and 37.5% from the three-point range in 10 regular-season games.
Bronny’s performance in the G League this season reached a high on Monday night. He scored a career-high 39 points, grabbed seven rebounds, provided four assists and made four steals, leading his South Bay Lakers team to a 122-118 victory over the Valley Suns. His shooting accuracy was remarkable, as he hit 14 of 21 shots from the field, including four of eight three-pointers.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9).
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Fox Sports’ Nick Wright shared a video featuring James’ statistics, commenting, “The kid can play.” In response, NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor tweeted that he believes James would be a first-round pick if there were a redraft.
“Bronny goes first round in a 2024 redraft today,” O’Connor tweeted. “Regardless of what that means for his NBA future, that shows how much better he’s gotten in less than one year. Improving his jumper has opened up his game entirely.”
That’s big praise for the talented player. However, while James has played well in the G League, he hasn’t had NBA success. In 23 games, he is averaging just 2.3 points, with shooting percentages of 32.7% from the field and 25% from three.
His best NBA outing came last Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks when the Lakers rested many starters. In that game, James scored 17 points and recorded five assists, shooting 70% from the field and 50% from three-point range.
Bronny James might be able to build off this performance, potentially leading to a more significant role on the team next year. For now, he is concentrating on development, hoping to show others he deserves to be on the court and “prove” his doubters wrong.
