One of the biggest storylines in the NBA this season surrounds the Los Angeles Lakers and their choice to draft Bronny James, the eldest son of LeBron James.
Most late second round picks spend the majority of their first season in the G League with a limited role in the NBA-level rotation. This should ring true with Bronny, who is far from the prospect that his father was. But some NBA scouts and executives believe his development will be undermined due to the expectations and storylines surrounding the rookie.
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“The expectations for Bronny by the fan base and by LeBron and Rich Paul are not commensurate with the reality of his game,” one Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “If they had any real idea of how far away Bronny is, they just would not have done this.”
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Bronny has shot a combined 1-of-7 in his two preseason outings and had similar struggles during his Summer League stint. While he’s shown glimpses of solid defensive potential, his offensive game needs to improve if he is to become a legitimate NBA-caliber player.
“You’re set up for failure,” one Eastern Conference scout who has evaluated Bronny for years said. “It’s like, what’s the expectation here?”
JJ Redick has his work cut out for him if he truly wants to help Bronny develop. For the long-term good of his career, serious time in the G League may be what he needs to grow his game. According to many NBA insiders, any other role this season would spell the end of Bronny’s short NBA stint.
James Parker is an NBA writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
