As the 2024 NBA Draft approaches, all eyes are on Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James. At just 19, Bronny is navigating the intense scrutiny and high expectations that come with being the son of one of basketball’s greatest players.
Reflecting on his own journey to the NBA, LeBron admits he couldn’t have handled the level of attention Bronny is receiving today.
“I wouldn’t be able to handle the scrutiny and all the things that he got going on at his age, at his level with social media,” James said on his and JJ Redick’s podcast ‘Mind the Game.’
The elder James recalls his own entry into the NBA at 18, a time before social media amplified every aspect of a player’s life. “Like I didn’t have social media to deal with when I came in at 18. I did have a lot of scrutiny. I did have a lot of things that were put on my shoulders. But I didn’t have — every single day — around-the-clock news coverage, sports shows, things talking about this particular person every single day.”
Despite the constant attention, Bronny has remained composed, a quality that makes his father proud.
“You go online, on social media, on X and Instagram, everyone can comment every single day about whatever they want to say,” James said. “I didn’t have to deal with that. To see him handle it with such class and self-awareness and staying even-keeled is such a remarkable thing. Super proud of him.”
Bronny’s path to the draft has been anything but smooth. After a single season at USC, hindered by a congenital heart defect, he declared for the draft while also entering the transfer portal.
His freshman year stats – 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over 25 games – have sparked debate about whether he should have stayed in college longer.
Despite these challenges, Bronny is projected to be a second-round pick, with speculation that the Lakers might draft him, potentially fulfilling LeBron’s dream of playing alongside his son in the NBA.
“As a parent, to be able to witness a child of yours start to live out a dream of theirs — it’s something Bronny has always talked about. We’ve asked him plenty of times what’s your end goal? And his end goal is to be in the NBA,” Lebron shared. “To see him almost at that moment, for a parent it’s something you can just be in awe of. You want your kids to be able to live out their dreams.”
