Unfortunately, making history as the first father-son duo to play in the NBA together comes with a cost — extra criticism.
Bronny James, son of NBA legend LeBron James, said he has experienced plenty of negativity after being selected by the Lakers as the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but said it’s nothing new.
“I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life so it’s nothing different. It’s more amplified for sure, but I’ll get through it,” the 19-year-old, who was signed to a multi-year standard NBA contract with multiple guaranteed seasons, per The Athletic, said at his introductory press conference Tuesday.
After weeks of speculation about his future, the former USC guard joined forces with his father on the Lakers’ roster.
The younger James said there is more “pressure” that comes with having the background that he has.
“For sure there’s an amplified amount of pressure,” Bronny told reporters. “I’ve already seen it on social media and the internet, talk about how I might not deserve an opportunity.”
While Bronny understands that people will assume he was drafted to the Lakers solely because of his dad and that he might not be as good as the future Hall of Famer, it’s undoubtedly tough for him to hear.
However, he added that he’s been improving his skills and looking to become a viable piece for Los Angeles.
“I feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to showcase what I can really do because I wasn’t given that much of an opportunity at SC,” Bronny, who suffered cardiac arrest last summer, added. “I’m excited for what is to come.”
Much of this negative sentiment likely arises from Bronny’s rocky freshman year at USC, as he averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 assists per game.
JJ Redick — who was announced as the Lakers’ new head coach at the end of June — is a firm believer in Bronny’s capabilities and future role on the team, denying any rumors of nepotism.
“Bronny has earned this. Bronny talks about his hard work. Bronny has earned this through hard, hard work,” Redick said Tuesday.
“For us, prioritizing player development, we view Bronny as Case Study 1, because his base level of feel, athleticism, point of attack defender, shooting, passing. There’s a lot to like about his game and we sort of build out our player development program holistically, he’s going to have a great opportunity to become an excellent NBA player.”
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka also showed his support when he called Bronny to inform him of being drafted.
“You’ve worked incredibly hard, man. You’ve put in a ton of work,” Pelinka said in a behind-the-scenes video released by the Lakers on social media.
Bronny James is expected to participate in the NBA Summer League, which is slated to begin for the Lakers on July 6.
