Opposing Execs Cast Major Doubt On Readiness And Future Of Lakers’ Bronny James

October 9, 2024

Lakers guard Bronny James, the No. 55 pick in June’s NBA draft, is already generating significant buzz — and not necessarily the good kind.

After a lackluster year at USC and some unimpressive performances in the preseason, critics are questioning whether Bronny is really ready for the big stage or if his last name did most of the heavy lifting.

It’s no secret that the Lakers’ decision to draft Bronny has raised eyebrows around the league. Many insiders suspect that his father, LeBron James, and Klutch Sports had a heavy hand in orchestrating this move, and the speculation has only grown after Bronny’s struggles. In his first two preseason games, he shot a combined 1-of-7, turning the ball over four times in just 13 minutes against the Suns.

As one Eastern Conference executive told Baxter Holmes of ESPN, “The expectations for Bronny by LeBron and Rich Paul don’t align with the reality of his game.”

That sentiment echoes throughout the league. Several scouts and front-office personnel who have evaluated Bronny for years feel that while he has the intangibles — high basketball IQ, work ethic, and coachability — he’s still a ways away from being an NBA-ready player.

“He should’ve stayed in school,” one Western Conference exec told Holmes. “No doubt about it.”

Bronny’s potential does exist, especially as a defensive player. His physical tools — a 6-foot-7 wingspan and a 40.5-inch vertical leap — have been noted by scouts, and there’s always the fact that he grew up in a basketball incubator alongside one of the greatest players in the game’s history. As another executive put it, “If anyone’s going to get the most out of their abilities, it’s someone raised by LeBron James.”

But that doesn’t erase the reality of the situation. Bronny’s offensive game is still very raw, and despite all the resources he’ll have at his disposal, including the best trainers and development coaches, there’s no guarantee he’ll meet the sky-high expectations placed on him by fans and media alike.

“He’s going to have every opportunity,” one Western Conference executive told Holmes. “The question is, what does he do with it?”

For now, Bronny will have to prove that he’s more than just LeBron’s son, and that the gamble the Lakers took on him was more than just a publicity move to pair him with his father. It’s going to be a long road, but in the NBA, all it takes is one breakout moment to change the narrative. Time will tell if Bronny has it in him.