Charles Barkley's Realistic Criticism of Bronny James

As the son of basketball icon LeBron James, Bronny has found himself the subject of extremely high expectations from both fans and analysts alike. Many of them are concerned whether or not the much-anticipated rookie can deliver under such pressure. Recently, NBA icon Charles Barkley weighed in on Bronny's prospects.

While Barkley is happy that Bronny James made it to the NBA , getting a once in a lifetime opportunity to play alongside his dad, LeBron , Barkley had some very stern, but realistic advice for the young guard. Unlike many of the haters out there, Barkley believes that Bronny deserves to play professional ball. That said, he knowns from experience that things are only going to get harder for the youngster moving forward.

Speaking on the "Throwbacks" podcast , Barkley opened up about Bronny James' journey to the pros, sharing his thoughts on the challenges that await the 20-year-old guard. Barkley cautioned:

"It's not going to be easy because he has a target on his back because of his last name," Barkley explained... There's going to be a certain amount of petty jealousness from people, like, 'You don't deserve to be in the NBA.'"

Later in the interview, Barkley advised the Lakers "to handle this thing with kid's gloves, literally," referring to the fact that Bronny has had a serious injury in the past (cardiac arrest) and is still an "unfinished product." Barkley believes that the Lakers "just can't put him out there" since he's so young and inexperienced.

In fact, Bronny is under intense scrutiny after a shaky start in his initial preseason outings. Despite heavy anticipation, Bronny’s preseason performance has left much to be desired, raising doubts about his preparedness for the upcoming season. As of writing this article,  Bronny averages just 0.7 points per game with a 9.1% shooting percentage, one rebound, 0.3 assists, and 1.7 turnovers per game.

Bad stats aside, NBA legend Charles Barkley stepped up to defend the young star, appealing for patience and reinforcing what a compelling narrative he represents. Barkley stated, "what a fantastic narrative this is! We’ve seen father-son combos like the Griffeys in baseball, but nothing quite like this in basketball. I can’t wait to see how it develops."

Although the anticipation for Bronny James' rookie year builds, the young star is expected to spend significant time in the G League while the Lakers focus on his development.

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