The debate over LeBron James‘ influence on and off the court over his son Bronny James has reached a new level following remarks by Ron Harper, a five-time NBA champion and key figure of the 1990s Chicago Bulls, who has once again questioned the Los Angeles Lakers star.
Both Harper and LeBron James have experienced watching their own sons develop, but the former Chicago player has made it clear that Ron Harper Jr. must succeed on his own merits, and that he would never force his children to follow in his footsteps. “I’m not going to tell my kids what to do or how to play.”
For Harper, success in elite sports must stem from individual achievement, not from a path paved by paternal influence. The former player emphasized that his role is one of support from the stands, not executive management in the front office. “They have to find their own passion. My job is to be cheering, not making decisions for them,” he stated, suggesting that LeBron’s constant guidance could be suffocating the natural development and credibility of his heirs in the eyes of the NBA.
Distance and maturity: The new stage between LeBron and Bronny
Despite external criticism over excessive control, LeBron James himself has revealed that his relationship with his eldest son has entered a phase of greater independence since Bronny began his professional journey and moved out of the family home.
According to statements reported by People, “The King” admitted that communication has changed drastically: “We don’t talk as much as we used to now that he moved out,” he confessed, hinting that the young player is gaining the space necessary to forge his own identity.
This transition has not been easy for the Lakers superstar, who described the process of watching Bronny become independent as “emotional.”
“Trash”: Harper’s old jab at LeBron’s legacy
This is not the first time Ron Harper has used explosive language to attack James. The tension between the two has a historical precedent dating back to 2020, when the NBA had to conclude its season inside the famous “Bubble” in Orlando due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While the basketball world celebrated LeBron James’ fourth championship after defeating the Miami Heat, Harper made sure to place a giant asterisk next to that trophy. For the former Bulls guard, the conditions of that tournament – without fans, without travel, and under strict protocols – diminished the validity of the Lakers’ title. “The bubble ring is just that! A bubble ring… Trash!” Harper said at the time.
This history of dismissals reinforces Harper’s stance as one of the fiercest critics not only of the current era, but also of LeBron James’ legacy.
