Bronny James is facing mounting pressure after struggling to find his footing in the first three preseason games with the Los Angeles Lakers. But NBA legend Charles Barkley has a different take, urging fans and the Lakers to be patient with the young star.
The son of NBA icon LeBron James, Bronny’s performances have left fans concerned about whether the highly anticipated rookie can meet the lofty expectations placed on him.
During an interview on the Throwbacks podcast, Barkley weighed in on Bronny’s rocky start, emphasizing the importance of giving the young guard room to develop.
“They’ve got to handle this thing with kid gloves,” Barkley advised. “He’s not a finished product yet. I’m just glad he’s healthy, and we’re all rooting for him out of respect for LeBron.”
The former NBA star acknowledged the immense spotlight on Bronny due to his famous last name. “It’s not going to be easy – he has a target on his back. But man, it’s a great story. We’ve seen father-son duos like the Griffeys in baseball, but not quite like this in basketball. I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.”
Bronny’s disappointing stats
Bronny’s preseason stats have been underwhelming, fueling concerns about his readiness for the 2024-25 NBA season. He’s posted just 0.7 points per game on a 9.1% field goal percentage, alongside one rebound, 0.3 assists, and 1.7 turnovers per game.
The 55th pick in the draft from USC, Bronny has averaged 11.9 minutes over three appearances, but his offensive numbers are dismal. His debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves yielded only two points, one rebound, and one assist in 16 minutes.
In subsequent games against the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks, Bronny went scoreless, despite sharing the court with his father for the first time in one matchup. While critics have pointed to his lack of offensive production, Barkley insists that patience is crucial. “You can’t just throw him out there and expect magic. This is a process,”Barkley said.
Bronny’s story is just beginning, says Barkley
According to HoopsHype’s Globalized Ratings, LeBron James’ son currently sits outside the top 30 in preseason player rankings. Comparatively, top prospect Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks is averaging 18.3 points per game.
Despite the noise, both Barkley and Bronny’s supporters believe it’s too early to make definitive judgments. As Barkley put it: “The best stories take time to unfold.” Whether Bronny can silence the critics remains to be seen, but with his father and supporters in his corner, the journey is just beginning.
