Stephen A. Smith needs LeBron James to throw the rattling towel on Bronny James’ NBA prospects in the interim.
Following an terrible displaying by Bronny on Tuesday vs. the 76ers, Smith placed on his performing footwear and implored the elder James to cease the perceived facade.
“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: stop this. Stop this,” Smith mentioned on “First Take” on Wednesday. “Everyone knows that Bronny James is within the NBA due to his dad. The primary recreation of the season, opening night time, the Griffeys in attendance, father-son duo taking part in in an NBA recreation for first time, a fully, positively fantastic story. After which actuality units in.
“We love what we’re seeing from him in the G League because that’s where you belong as you honed your skills and you get better and you legitimately earn, which I believe he has the potential to do, I am rooting for Bronny James, it would be cruel to root against him. He’s a wonderful kid, I wish him nothing but the best. But he’s LeBron James’ son and everybody knows what attention that brings.”
Bronny’s NBA credentials have been questioned for the reason that Lakers chosen him within the second spherical of the 2024 NBA Draft following an underwhelming freshman season with USC.
His manufacturing didn’t warrant a choose, however many understood that the Lakers could have been doing LeBron a favor.
Bronny has the possibility to be a stable NBA participant, however he probably wanted extra seasoning following an inconsistent freshman season after struggling cardiac arrest.
Many celebrated the Jameses making historical past on opening night time after they grew to become the primary father-son duo to take the courtroom collectively in an NBA recreation, however actuality has since sunk in.
Bronny is averaging 0.3 factors, 0.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists throughout 13 video games.
He’s hit simply 1-of-16 photographs, together with 0-for-7 from 3-point vary.
Bronny performed a career-high quarter-hour in Tuesday’s 118-104 loss, lacking all 5 of his photographs together with three from deep.
Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned he “maybe put him in a tough spot” with the project.
“You know what people are saying. You know what they’re going to do to this kid,” Smith mentioned. “In 13 games, he has played 44 minutes. He has scored four points, he is shooting 1-of-16 from the field, 0-for-7 from 3-point range. How are you doing him favors? We know that he’s not ready yet. And I’m saying this with compassion, I’m asking the greatest player in the game … You know what these numbers mean. You know what it’s going to do to your son, to people that are missing out on opportunities, that are busting their tail on other NBA teams and the G League and Europe and everywhere else, what kind of opportunity they are starving for? You’re exposing your son like this.”
Bronny has performed significantly better within the G League, averaging 13.4 factors, 3.4 rebounds and three.9 assists throughout 9 video games.
He’s taking pictures 36.6 % from the sector, however simply 21.2 % from deep.
LeBron, although, believes these NBA alternatives will solely assist him in the long term.
“Obviously, it’s his first extensive minutes with us,” LeBron mentioned, per ESPN. “We had that first game where it was just a moment — and that was a great moment. But (Tuesday) was his first opportunity to be with the big guys, be with the big club, and he’s going to continue to use that and get better and better.”
