The Lakers’ choice to draft Bronny James is historic and heartwarming, offering a rare bright spot for a franchise in need of uplifting news. However, it might not be the smartest move, and it may not be fair to two key individuals involved.
While the Lakers’ selection of Bronny James at the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft created major headlines, it also raised eyebrows. The Lakers made this decision despite Bronny being overlooked by nearly every other NBA team and despite his struggles last season at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game after recovering from a cardiac arrest episode that sidelined him for five months.
Most experts agree that Bronny’s game could have benefited from another year in college. The Lakers’ decision seems driven by a desire to keep their superstar, LeBron James, happy, as he had expressed a wish to play with his son and has the option to opt out of his contract this summer.
While this move might not cost the Lakers much in terms of personnel, it places a significant burden on Bronny. The father-son duo will face immense scrutiny, with critics likely crying nepotism and experts closely watching every interaction. Bronny, who had enough pressure playing college games with his father courtside, now faces the challenge of developing his game under the shadow of one of the greatest players in history.
The spotlight will be relentless, with every action and comment going viral. This would be less of an issue if Bronny were a top draft pick with a strong game to withstand the scrutiny, but as a late second-round pick, he still needs time to develop.
Even if Bronny spends time with the minor-league South Bay Lakers, the media circus will follow. Having bravely overcome significant health challenges, he deserves a chance to develop in a less pressurized environment. However, he now faces heightened expectations and a challenging timetable.
During a news conference in the spring, Bronny acknowledged the immense pressure, saying, “Yeah, it’s a lot.” He also expressed his dream to make a name for himself independently, saying, “My dream has always been just to put my name out, make a name for myself, and of course, you know, get to the NBA. I never thought about just playing with my Dad.” This dream now seems nearly impossible.
In addition to Bronny, new Lakers coach JJ Redick will also face challenges. Redick needs to establish a culture and connect with his stars, but managing the hype around a second-round draft pick will add to his burden. He will have to handle numerous pregame interview questions about Bronny’s progress and shield his veterans from distractions.
If Bronny develops quickly, there may be pressure from LeBron’s camp to give him more minutes, adding further stress to Redick’s role. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, however, believes this draft pick supports the legacy of Lakers greatness and that Bronny can handle the pressure due to his upbringing in the public eye.
Pelinka also seems to be betting on this pick to keep LeBron in a Lakers uniform, describing it as a magical opportunity for NBA history to be made in a Laker uniform. While this is a safe bet in terms of keeping LeBron, it is a greatly unsettling one for Bronny, who now faces an intense spotlight and high expectations.
Bronny is coming. LeBron is staying. The circus is starting.