Ric Bucher believes Bronny James is under the most pressure any incoming player into the NBA has ever faced. Discussing on FS1’s ‘Speak’ show, Bucher believes the perception of Bronny’s merit as an NBA player, combined with how his father LeBron James has praised him, has put an incredible amount of pressure on the former USC player.
“I’m not sure that there’s ever been more pressure on any player coming into the NBA than there is on Bronny James. Because I cannot recall of a player that came into the league where people were saying uniformly ‘he doesn’t deserve to be in the league’. Which is what they’re saying about Bronny James.”
“He didn’t earn his way here. And I know there’s never been a player whose dad said coming in ‘he’s already better than some of the teammates I have in my locker room’, which is what LeBron James said last year. The same team that he is now walking into and playing with some of those guys.”
“And he’s the first to ever be part of a father-son combo in the history of the NBA. And is that largely… maybe exclusively because of who his dad is? The target on Bronny James’ back, and we can all say he’s a great kid, he doesn’t deserve any of this, doesn’t matter. There’s going to be guys in the league looking to say, ‘You’re not your dad, not even sure you belong here. And we’ll show you why.’”
.@RicBucher: I'm not sure that there's ever been more pressure on any one player coming into the NBA then there is on Bronny James. pic.twitter.com/KYfZx9S50C
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) July 4, 2024
Bronny James does face quite the uphill battle as he enters the NBA. With many suggestions that he was drafted at the behest of LeBron James, he will be eager to prove doubters wrong. Bronny will have limited opportunities to do so in the NBA, as he is expected to mostly play in the G-League this season.
Skip Bayless Believes Bronny James Has Clutch Gene Unlike LeBron James
Skip Bayless has done little to quell the pressure on Bronny, as he suggested that Bronny has more of a clutch gene in him than his father LeBron James. He believes Bronny will be involved heavily with the Lakers, and expects him to outshine LeBron in the late-game moments.
“Bronny signed sealed and delivered now with the Lakers. He’s on a guaranteed Laker contract there’s no G League involved here. He’s going to be on the Laker roster as I said from day one and he’s going to play fairly significant minutes fairly quickly. I don’t know how many that’ll be and I am a Bronny fan.”
“In fact, I think Bronny is built even tougher than his father is, because Bronny’s been through a lot in his life, in the harshest spotlight any kid could ever be thrust into as LeBron James Jr. I love how Bronny’s handled this.”
“I get a good feeling every time I watch him not only play basketball but just handle himself, carry himself. Kid’s got a backbone. Kid’s got guts. Kid’s got principle and character. His parents did a good job raising him. I think he’ll be more calm, cool, and collected in the eye of next year’s storm than even his father will be.”
“I think he’ll play pretty well alongside his father, but it is going to be circus material because you have a first-time head coach trying to juggle minutes with Bronny and proven veterans who are not going to love it when Bronny gets his 12 minutes, 14 minutes, and 16 minutes, and maybe even some nights 20 minutes a game playing alongside, if not in place of, his father.”
Bronny James will get his chance to impress the Lakers‘ coaching staff and fans, but fans shouldn’t expect to see a lot of him with the Lakers next season. James barely played with USC after his cardiac arrest last year, so his time in the G-League will be crucial for him to develop as a player.
James will be looking to prove that his $4.9 million rookie contract is worth every penny. But considering that it is a full four-year deal, he will have plenty of opportunities to do so. For now, he should focus on his game, and make sure that he is the best version of himself on the basketball court.
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