Some analysts claim the Lakers’ management inadvertently placed a target on James’ back.
Bronny James had a shaky start to his professional career. Criticism rained down on the Los Angeles Lakers rookie after two less-than-stellar performances in the NBA Summer League; however, some analysts consider that it was all the fault of the team’s management.
The eldest son of Lakers star LeBron James began generating expectations during his high school days. The possibility of the young prospect playing with his father in an official NBA game made him the target of critics and analysts alike.
The cardiac arrest he suffered in July 2023, when he was already playing for the USC Trojans, only increased the scrutiny on the young James. His low production in his first college season intensified the criticism that has followed him in his first appearances in the Summer League.
In this regard, the The Athletic analyst Seth Partnow considered that the Lakers board put a target on Bronny’s back for the way they handled his selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Lakers board did him no favors
Speaking to the Lowe Post podcast, Partnow recalled that experts considered Bronny a great prospect before his heart problems. However, he also said that the board, headed by owner and president Jeanie Buss, did not do the young player any favors.
“I think they have done him a tremendous disservice. Not just the fact of picking him but the way they have sort of rolled it out… I think that they have gone so over the top in this that they’ve really put a target on the poor kid’s back,” Partnow said.
It is worth remembering that James’selection generated high expectations among the fans and the media. Although he was picked late in the second round of the 2024 Draft, in 55th place, the press gave him almost the same coverage as the first selection Zaccharie Risacher.
James Sr.’s statements about the hope of playing with his son in an official game and the maneuvers of Bronny’s agent, Rich Paul, to ensure that no other team would target the player only contributed to making the situation bigger.
Bronny James’ poor start
James had trouble finding his rhythm in the first two games of the Summer League, and in neither game did he surpass the 10-point barrier. However, little by little, he has been improving, and after scoring 12 points against the Atlanta Hawks in his third game, he scored 29 against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
In this regard, analyst Zach Lowe recalled that despite all the noise around him, Bronny James is still a developing player. “It’s an uncomfortable topic to talk about… I was kind of just like what is the expiration date on this where we can just let him be a developmental player outside of the spotlight.”
Expectations for Bronny James were much higher than what his numbers with the Trojans granted. Despite everything, the press and fans have not stopped judging him as if he had been an NCAAstar. Although LeBron has assured that his son is immune to criticism, we will have to see how he performs when the 2024-2025 NBA season arrives.