Regardless of his personal actions enjoying no actual function in any of it, Bronny James was topic to limitless discourse and drama in his rookie season.
However whether or not Stephen A. Smith likes it or not, James is reflecting fondly on his history-making 12 months on the Lakers alongside his father LeBron.
“It’s a blessing,” Bronny mentioned, based on FOX Sports activities. “Being able to learn from him, not only as a player, but as a dad. It’s a different type of relationship. I try to take full advantage of it because it’s something that a lot of people can’t have. It was an amazing experience for me.”
LeBron and Bronny turned the NBA’s first-ever father-son duo this season — but it surely’s unclear whether or not the 40-year-old will return for a twenty third season within the league. He has a $52.6 million participant choice that he might decide into to return subsequent season.
“I’m looking forward to learning more from him, if he’s still here or not, either way,” Bronny mentioned. “But I’m just looking forward to it.”
Whereas LeBron, a four-time champion, MVP and the NBA’s all-time main scorer, is arguably the best participant of all time, nothing stacks as much as what he completed this season enjoying alongside his son.
“Number one, for sure,” James mentioned about the place the feat stacks up in his accomplishments. “That’s easy. It is not even close. To be able to play the game that I love and to be able to be along with my son this whole year has been one of the most gratifying, satisfying journeys I’ve ever been on.”
Whereas neither would commerce the expertise for something, strain was definitely an element for the name-bearing son of one of many biggest athletes ever.
Bronny suffered cardiac arrest throughout a observe forward of his freshman season at USC and went on to common simply 4.8 factors earlier than being drafted fifty fifth by the Lakers.
His rush into the NBA drew loads of eyes — and criticism.
“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this. Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad,” Smith mentioned in January on ESPN’s “First Take.”
LeBron rushed to his son’s protection because the argument with Smith took the league and web by storm.
“I was under a lot of pressure,” Bronny mentioned. “It was getting to me a little bit.”
With all of the nepotism speak, Bronny, who averaged 21.9 factors per recreation for the Lakers’ G League affiliate, simply desires to show that he belongs within the NBA.
“That’s all I’ve been trying to prove.”
Together with his first season now within the books, that’s what he’ll proceed to work towards.
“Keeping my head down and working,” Bronny mentioned. “Working is a distraction from everything. I love just coming into the gym and working and talking to my coaches and watching film. All of the stuff that can help me get better every day. It’s a distraction from all of that stuff. So, just going to continue to do that and see where it takes me. It’s going good so far.”
