Stephen A. Smith publicly admitted he may have misjudged the rookie after a standout performance, praising his growth, confidence, and potential to become a legitimate NBA player sooner than expected.
For months, Smith questioned whether Bronny truly earned his place in the league or if his last name was doing the heavy lifting. That tension reached a peak when LeBron James confronted him courtside, accusing the commentator of being unfair to his son.
But everything changed after Thursday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, where Bronny delivered the strongest performance of his young career. The rookie finished with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, along with five assists, three rebounds, a block, and two made three-pointers.
“I Might Have Been Wrong” — Stephen A. Reflects
In a lengthy and surprisingly humble segment, Smith praised Bronny’s composure and on-court presence.
“I was very impressed because I saw an elevation in his level of confidence and poise,” Smith said. “He didn’t look as nervous as he had in previous appearances. He looked like somebody that belonged.”
Smith acknowledged the Lakers were without key players—LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, among others—which opened up minutes for Bronny. Still, Smith made it clear that Bronny took full advantage of the opportunity.
Reevaluating His Original Take
Smith had previously argued that Bronny needed a full year in the G League, but Thursday’s game changed his thinking.
“My position all along was that Bronny James needed to be in the G League his first year… But what I saw last night made me say to myself, ‘Wait a minute—if he keeps playing like that…’”
He credited Bronny’s development to a combination of coaching from JJ Redick, support from veteran teammates, and experience gained by moving between the Lakers and their G League affiliate.
“If that kind of progress continues, he’ll be a bona fide player in this league sooner than people think.”
Setting the Record Straight With LeBron
Smith also addressed the growing tension between himself and LeBron James. According to him, his critiques of Bronny have never been personal.
“When I was approached by pops at courtside, I’ll contend I was never disrespecting Bronny James,” Smith said. “I didn’t attend his games before the pros because I wanted to give the kid a real shot.”
Smith doubled down on the idea that his initial skepticism wasn’t hate, but a belief that Bronny needed time to develop. However, he admitted that being around high-level talent and coaching may be fast-tracking that development.
“What I may have been wrong about is the G League being a better fit,” he said. “Maybe being around the Lakers, Redick, and bouncing between the leagues is doing wonders for him.”
