It was a strange season for the Los Angeles Lakers, and NBA rookie Bronny James was just trying to find his place. After being picked 55th overall last summer, James Jr. knew it would be a long process, but it didn’t stop the fans from having huge expectations for his performance.
“I was under a lot of pressure,” Bronny said, via Melissa Rohlin. “It was getting to me a little bit.”
As the son of a basketball legend, Bronny James did not have the typical path to the NBA. He grew up in the spotlight and was pressured at an early age to live up to his father’s legacy. Still, James Jr. sees it as a blessing to be able to learn and train with one of the greatest players ever.
“It’s a blessing,” Bronny told FOX Sports. “Being able to learn from him, not only as a player, but as a dad. It’s a different type of relationship. I try to take full advantage of it because it’s something that a lot of people can’t have. It was an amazing experience for me. And I’m looking forward to learning more from him, if he’s still here or not, either way. But I’m just looking forward to it.”
In October, Bronny and his dad became the first father-son duo in NBA history, and Bronny wants to keep it going for as long as he can. While LeBron James has yet to confirm his plans for the 2025-26 campaign, most experts agree that he will return for at least one more season to make his last stand.
“Yeah, for sure,” said Bronny on whether he wants his father to return for another season. “However long he can come back for, it’s always a pleasure being around him. He’s locked in. The stuff he does for his body and the preparation and stuff like that, I want to take full advantage of it.”
LeBron has been active for 22 seasons in the NBA, and he continues to outshine his competitors with his work ethic, discipline, and attention to detail. Since being drafted in 2003, James has been a model NBA superstar and a shining example of how the face of the NBA should conduct himself.
Growing up under his guidance, Bronny has taken a page or two from LeBron’s book, and it’s gotten him pretty far at 19 years old. After a lone season at USC, Bronny is now a Laker who is still in the early stages of a four-year, $7.9 million contract.
While the pressure has been tremendous for Bronny to live up to his family name, the Lakers are giving him plenty of time to find his rhythm, and they are dedicated to giving him all the resources he needs.
With enough time and practice, Bronny may finally be ready for full-time NBA action, and then he can get to work on silencing the haters once and for all. With averages of 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game as a rookie, James Jr. still has a long way to go, but both he and the Lakers are confident in his potential.
