Bronny James ‘Set Up to Fail’ With Lakers, According to NBA Talent Evaluators
The rookie and famed son of LeBron James has his work cut out for him, according to talent evaluators.
One of the key narratives surrounding the upcoming NBA season is how guard Bronny James—son of basketball icon LeBron James—will integrate with the Los Angeles Lakers and what his role on the team will look like.
For most second-round draft picks, the first year in the NBA typically involves behind-the-scenes development, with limited playing time. This usually includes stints in the G League, serving as part of the scout team, and minimal minutes in the NBA rotation.
However, Bronny James faces a different outlook—largely because of the immense attention surrounding his father. Unlike LeBron, Bronny isn’t considered an elite prospect, and he’s unlikely to ever reach the same level of stardom. Yet, with all the external media hype, there’s a risk that his development could be overshadowed by storylines, which has left NBA executives questioning the potential outcome.
“The expectations from the fan base, LeBron, and Rich Paul don’t match the reality of Bronny’s game,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “If they truly understood how far Bronny has to go, they wouldn’t have made this decision.”
Another NBA scout remarked that Bronny is “set up for failure.”
“It’s like, what’s the realistic expectation here?” the scout added.
Bronny’s success will ultimately depend on his talent and how he progresses within the Lakers’ system, but many talent evaluators remain doubtful about what LeBron James’ son can realistically achieve.
