Bronny James was drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, sending the basketball community into a frenzy. Assuming the former USC guard makes the final roster, he and LeBron would be the first-ever father-son duo to share the court together.
The idea of it seemed to excite members of the Lakers community, especially LeBron James himself. In the aftermath of his son's selection, the four-time champion posted an Instagram picture of himself and a young Bronny back during his Cleveland days.
“LEGACY!!!” LeBron James captioned the post, adding two king emojis.
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Bronny can use the backlash as motivation
Bronny's selection to the pros was filled with mixed reactions. On one hand, many expressed enthusiasm about potentially watching another member of the James family in the NBA. On the other hand, however, some fans questioned the move, claiming nepotism while questioning the 19-year-old's readiness for an NBA career.
The naysayers point to Bronny James' USC tenure as their base of argument. In one season with the Trojans, Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. These aren't eye-raising numbers for sure, and the external noise likely won't stop unless Bronny shows that he can perform among his NBA peers.
On the bright side, iron sharpens iron, and James' exposure to NBA-level talent will surely help in his development. It's a no-brainer that he still has plenty of room to grow. Nevertheless, being around his father and other top-tier athletes could possibly speed up his improvement.
The door for Bronny James to silence the haters is there — he has the opportunity of a lifetime, and he has all the necessary help by his side. The only thing that's left now is to make strides moving forward.
A story of resilience
Facing all the pressure may seem like a daunting challenge, but Bronny James knows a thing or two about overcoming challenges. After all, nothing will ever come close to what the 6-foot-2 guard went through back in July of 2023.
During an offseason workout at Galen Center, Bronny suddenly collapsed and was hospitalized. It was later revealed that he suffered from cardiac arrest because of a congenital heart defect. Following successful treatment, he was released from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA after three days, continuing his rehab in the ensuing months.
Bronny James was finally cleared to play basketball in late November, making his debut with USC on Dec. 10. If he can make it past an ordeal like that, then the mere task of silencing his doubters is something that won't surely faze him.
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