Sadly, Bronny James had another poor outing in the NBA. This time against the Sixers on Tuesday night
Bronny James’ challenges in the NBA have moved beyond casual debate and are now the focus of a public call for action from one of sports media’s most outspoken figures.
Following another difficult outing from the rookie guard, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith didn’t mince words, openly urging LeBron James to reassess his son’s current trajectory.
Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back on First Take when discussing Bronny James’ struggles in the NBA: “This isn’t helping him. It’s hurting him,” Smith stated emphatically.
In his latest game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Bronny failed to score in 15 minutes on the court, missing all five of his attempts, including three from beyond the arc.
His overall performance through 13 games with the Lakers has been minimal, averaging just 0.3 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 0.3 assists, with only one successful field goal in 16 attempts this season.
In the G League, in nine games with the Lakers’ affiliate team, Bronny has posted much better numbers, averaging 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
“We all know why he’s in the NBA right now,” Smith continued. “It’s because of his dad. And that’s fine for a moment, but the moment is over. Now, we’re watching a kid struggle in real time under a microscope that no 19-year-old should have to face.”
“You know what these numbers mean. You know what it’s going to do to your son,” Smith warned. “There are guys busting their tails in the G League, in Europe, waiting for a shot. This isn’t doing Bronny any favors-it’s exposing him.”
The Lakers’ decision to draft Bronny in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft was met with skepticism, largely due to his underwhelming freshman season at USC.
Despite the criticism, LeBron continues to believe in his son. “He’s going to continue to use this and get better and better,” LeBron told ESPN.
