While preexisting skepticism toward Bronny James continues to turn complete nan summer, Stephen A. Smith made an honorable appraisal astir his spot successful nan Lakers roster adjacent season.
After his arsenic celebrated and criticized draught action into his father's team, LeBron James' inferior has been astatine nan forefront of media attraction while competing successful nan NBA Summer League successful Las Vegas.
Three games into nan competition, Smith expressed his contiguous belief connected Bronny's crippled astatine this level.
'What we've seen from Bronny James frankincense far,' Smith said earlier pausing. 'All I'm going to opportunity is that unless there's immense improvement, nan only clip we amended spot him is sitting connected nan chair aliases successful practice.
'Because if he's retired location connected nan hoops court, nobody's gonna judge that's connected his merits.'
Stephen A. Smith said Bronny James will not play for nan Lakers unless he vastly improves
Through nan first 3 games successful Sin City, nan rookie is averaging 7.3 points, 3 rebounds and .03 assists per crippled while making 30 per cent of his section goals and shooting 12.5 per cent from three-point range. He is clocking successful 25.1 minutes connected average.
With cries of nepotism already surrounding his introduction into nan convention fixed his father's position and his none-NBA worthy numbers, Smith doubled down connected really he would beryllium perceived erstwhile nan play stars.
'They're gonna judge it's because of LeBron James and you already judge successful that anyway, and that puts him successful a bad spot,' Smith continued. 'Which is why I've ne'er watched him, because I ne'er wanted to person to screen him because I don't wanna do that to nan kid.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James pinch nan 55th prime successful nan 2024 NBA Draft
LeBron and Bronny will beryllium nan first begetter and boy to play together successful nan NBA
LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists for nan Lakers past season
Bronny is averaging 7.3 points, 3 rebounds and .03 assists per crippled successful nan Summer League
'I wanna springiness him an opportunity to turn and shine. It ain't his responsibility that his dada was retired location doing what he did successful position of bloviating his sanction each complete nan place.'
'And I'm not saying it successful an insulting way,' Smith added. 'I'm not trying to beryllium remotely disrespectful to LeBron James. Major props to him, he loves his boy that much, man - it's nary crime. You're truthful media savvy, you had to cognize what benignant of unit this was going to equine connected his shoulders.'
The Lakers drafted Bronny pinch nan 55th prime aft 25 games and six starts for nan USC Trojans.
He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists arsenic his squad vanished pinch a 15-18 record, placing ninth successful nan Pac-12.