Bronny James is one of the biggest stories heading into the 2024-25 NBA season, and much has been made of whether or not he deserves his spot on the Los Angeles Lakers roster.
Critics have pointed to “nepotism” as the reason he was selected in the 2024 NBA Draft and given a four-year, $7.9 million contract. It is rare that a player enters the league with as much hype and controversy as James, and some believe he will be received in a similar fashion to Lonzo Ball as a rookie.
Ball generated as much media buzz as a rookie NBA player can, thanks to his outspoken father, Lavar Ball. Lavar made headlines with outrageous statements such as “he’s better than Steph Curry” and coined the phrase “stay in yo’ lane.”
Every time the number two draft pick stepped foot on the court during his rookie season, he was met by an increased defensive intensity from the player he matched up with.
In Ball’s professional debut, Patrick Beverley made a point of body-checking Ball, unnecessarily committing take fouls, and even guarding him from 94 feet early on in the first quarter.
“No one liked his dad. It was not anything to have to do with him. He is a great basketball player. He went to UCLA, and he is a Cali kid,” said Beverley.
“I didn’t want to hear his dad talking about me the next day. The only thing I kept hearing was Lavar Ball.”
All eyes will be on Bronny James much like they were on Ball, but the difference is his father is one of the greatest basketball players of all time and extremely well-respected in the league. The same cannot be said about Lavar.
LeBron James reportedly said in the Lakers locker room last year that “(Bronny) could play for us right now. Easy.” That statement is not the same as saying he is better than the best point guard in the NBA.
There might be some jealousy towards James as he heads into year one, but there will not be the same level of animosity that opposing players showed towards Ball.
Bronny James was seen earlier this month working out with former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award winner Jordan Clarkson and All-Star guard Darius Garland in preparation for his rookie season. Current players will likely embrace Bronny, much like LeBron had for them when they came into the league.
There is no doubt Bronny’s matchups will not want the rookie to get the better of them, but they certainly will not purposely foul him and face-guard him all the way down the court. He will go through some growing pains playing against the highest level of competition in the world, but he should be accepted by his peers from day one.