Bronny James has spoken — if not directly — and he says he’s obtained greater objectives than taking part in puppet on the NBA All-Star recreation.
“LeBron James and Bronny James were sought out by the league … to participate in the Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend,” NBA insider Chris Haynes mentioned Thursday, “but I was told that invitation was turned down.”
Bronny was additionally invited to play with the G-League Rising Stars crew, however that supply was declined as nicely, Haynes studies.
LeBron, 40, and Bronny, 20, would have turn out to be the primary father-son duo to compete alongside each other within the Expertise Competitors.
And whereas that’s historical past, certain, it’s chump-history in comparison with that which the Jameses made initially of the season after they turned the primary father-son duo to share an NBA court docket.
So, whereas the elder James can be jet-setting out to the rat-infested Paris of the West to buddy up with the league’s different All-Stars — together with the primary Knickerbocker beginning duo in 50 years — his first-born can be at residence. Or, extra probably, the gymnasium.
Even earlier than the Lakers chosen him within the second spherical of the 2024 NBA Draft, the pundits, zealots and on-line rabble-rousers had been babbling about the place Bronny James needs to be taking part in and the issues Bronny James needs to be doing.
And but, within the weeks since he was “relegated” to the G-League, and underneath the marginally much less brilliant lights of South Bay, the King’s kin has appeared to close out the noise and give attention to, fairly improbably, taking part in good basketball.
The pattern measurement is small — simply seven video games — however in that span Bronny is averaging 13.4 factors, 3.4 rebounds and three.9 assists per recreation in 26.9 minutes on the ground.
Prorated per a full 48 minute recreation, these numbers climb to 23.9, 6.1 and 6.9, respectively.
It’s not all golden. A 36.6 p.c discipline purpose proportion, together with 21.2 p.c from past the arc, go away a lot to be desired.
However for a second-round choose with just one season of faculty ball underneath his belt, in his first ever skilled season, taking part in with GOAT-sized expectations on his shoulders, these numbers illustrate a step in the correct course — the promise of potential.
NBA All-Star Weekend is what it’s. And skipping saves Bronny not less than two extra flights.
However greater than that, it’s every week saved and every week earned. Every week that may be spent creating precise expertise in an precise gymnasium — not the Chase Middle, not on an internationally televised broadcast.
And sure, there are networking alternatives that can be missed, however what’s Bronny actually lacking out on?
