Bronny James has the entire world buzzing after declaring for the 2024 draft and moving one step closer to forming the first father-son duo in NBA history. But in an appearance on CNN this week, NBA legend Charles Barkley explained why he doesn’t want to see Bronny join forces with his pops this summer.
“I don’t want him (LeBron James) to play with his son. I want his son to develop his own name,” said Barkley. “If he goes to LeBron’s team, I think it would put too much of a spotlight on him because LeBron’s a brighter star of this generation…I think the kid needs to go away by himself so he can grow as a player, so he can grow as a person…You don’t want your kid on that type of pressure…I don’t want him to play with LeBron.”
This type of situation is uncharted territory in the NBA and there are mixed feelings on it all around. While it’s hard to ignore the positives of a LeBron/Bronny team-up, is it the best thing for Bronny? Some, like Charles Barkley, would argue that the answer is no.
As the biggest basketball star on the planet, the spotlight follows LeBron wherever he goes. So if he links up with his son, all the pressure will fall on Bronny to live up to expectations and become the kind of player who can contribute to winning basketball from day one. Not to mention that Bronny’s coaches and teammates will all defer directly to his dad, shifting focus away from his development and hindering his growth as a player.
Currently, it’s impossible to tell what the plan is for Bronny or King James, but one can surmise that their futures are linked with several big decisions to make this summer. While Bronny cannot entirely control where he gets drafted, he can decide whether or not to return to college, and the choice will have big implications on the short-term and long-term future of the NBA.
A Big Summer For The James Family
It’s no secret that LeBron has been angling to play with his son for a while now, and he can make that dream a reality in just a few months.
Bronny, who is still fresh off his debut season for the USC Trojans, recently declared for the draft and will spend the next few weeks gauging interest from teams around the league. At the same time, Bronny also entered the transfer portal, allowing him to keep his college eligibility for next season.
While Bronny has teased several outcomes via social media, nobody knows what he’s thinking right now, and he is even unsure of where he wants to play next. But the important thing for Bronny is that he gave himself options and he now has the freedom to pick whatever path he wants.
As Bronny mulls this critical decision, LeBron is quietly watching to see how it plays out. As a potential free agent this summer, James will be free to sign with any team in the league, and we know there are a few of them who would love to have him and Bronny join the fold.
But if James Jr. wants the best chance for success in the NBA, he may have to re-think what it would cost to play with his dad. In the eyes of Barkley and many others, Bronny is better off forging a completely separate identity and building a legacy that is not tied down to the one who came before him.
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