Bronny James opens up about his harsh critics: ‘I just take that and use it as fuel’

During an interview with NBA reporter Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James opened up about his harsh critics. 

Since Bronny is the son of LeBron James and only averaged 4.8 points at USC last season, he is one of the most scrutinized rookies in NBA history. 

“My first thought about everything is I always try to just let it go through one ear and out the other, put my head down and come to work and be positive every day,” Bronny said. “But sometimes it just, it fuels me a little bit. I see everything that people are saying, and people think, like, I’m a f—— robot, like I don’t have any feelings or emotions.

“But I just take that and use it as fuel for me to go out, wake up every day and get to the gym early, get my extra work in, watch my extra film every day, get better every day. That’s what Rob (Pelinka) wants me to do as a young guy, coming in, playing in the G League and learning from far on the bench watching the Lakers play.”

Bronny is putting up excellent numbers in the G League, especially when you consider he almost died after suffering a cardiac arrest at USC. He’s averaging 20.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 43.1% from the field, 36.1% from beyond the arc and 80.0% from the free-throw line. 

“I definitely think I’ve improved, not only as a player, but just having a different mindset as a player to go out and play my game and play the game that I know how to play,” Bronny said. “I feel really good about it — I see the progress.”

Bronny has a lot of work to do before he becomes a rotational NBA player.

However, the youngster is willing to do whatever it takes to become an asset for the Lakers.

“I saw consistency coming (before that Cleveland trip), and that’s like the biggest thing I’ve been criticized about for a minute, just being consistent as a player,” Bronny said. “I started to see that, and it kind of drove you to (consider that), well, maybe these people don’t think that I could be consistent as a player, be a good player, produce as a player. So just seeing those numbers and seeing myself on film, I believed in myself more, and that boosted my confidence. That little Cleveland stretch definitely sparked a little something.”