Bronny James was drafted in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers, and former Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal did not hold back on his show, “The Big Podcast,” addressing the backlash surrounding the young player’s selection.
Critics argue that Bronny was chosen because of nepotism, given that he is the son of current Lakers star LeBron James, rather than his basketball talent. O’Neal, however, firmly defended Bronny, emphasizing that the scrutiny is unfair and that Bronny is unfairly burdened with expectations due to his father’s legacy.
“I would like the scrutiny to get off of Bronny James, my nephew. He’s a kid, great kid. All he wants to do is play,” O’Neal said. “It’s unfortunate that kids like ours have to live up to what we have done. I tell my kids all the time, pressure is when you don’t know where your next meal is coming from. You don’t have to be me. I want you to be better than me. I’m not talking about as a player but as a person.”
O’Neal also expressed sympathy for the 19-year-old Bronny, acknowledging the media cloud that follows him not only because he is LeBron’s son but also because he is following in his father’s footsteps in basketball. O’Neal emphasized that young athletes like Bronny want to succeed on their own merit.
“Like all that’s unnecessary, kid’s 18, 19 years old. I hope he gets drafted. I hope he makes it, and I hope he can do it on his own,” O’Neal said. “One thing that would be a bad look is them saying you know you only made it because of your daddy. You know as a kid, they want to make it for themselves, and he will.”
O’Neal wasn’t the only voice in basketball media supporting Bronny. Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green also praised the young player, predicting that Bronny could become a better professional than many in the current draft class.
“I actually think Bronny is going to end up being a better pro than a lot of these players in this draft,” Green said on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.” “Has the athleticism, has the basketball IQ, plays the game the right way. I think he’s going to be a good shooter in the NBA…He has LeBron James’ DNA, and I’m going to take the bet on that.”
"I actually think Bronny is going to end up being a better pro than a lot of these players in this draft"
—@Money23Green says Bronny has a bright future in the NBA pic.twitter.com/FUkHG1zbrD
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) June 28, 2024
Lakers’ Rob Pelinka on the Significance of Drafting Bronny James
The selection of Bronny James in the second round also made history, setting the stage for a potential father-son duo in the NBA. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka spoke about the “magical” potential of LeBron and Bronny playing together.
“In the history of the NBA, there’s never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court, and that feels like something that could be magical,” said Pelinka, who also serves as the Vice President of Basketball Operations. “We know and have to respect of course that LeBron has a decision on his opt-out … but if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made. And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.”
The Lakers are looking to improve after finishing as the seventh seed with a 47-35 record last season before losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Denver Nuggets. With a new head coach in JJ Redick and the potential addition of Bronny, the team hopes for a stronger performance next season.