"I can separate dad from teammate" - LeBron James on him and Bronny holding each other accountable while playing together

NBA fans are anticipating how the dynamics between LeBron James and his son and current Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Bronny, will evolve once the regular season starts. As many people know, LeBron has become infamous for treating underperforming teammates with passive-aggressive or confrontational behavior.

The future Hall of Famer addressed the question in a recent interview with Craig Melvin of "TODAY." He claimed that Bronny would not get preferential treatment despite them being the first father-and-son duo to play simultaneously in the NBA.

"It's going to work just like any one other of my teammates," said the older James. "I'm going to hold him accountable, and he should hold me accountable when I do things not right. I can separate dad from teammate. And, I think, as he continues to grow, and as he continues to learn, I hope he's able to separate son from teammate, as well."

Wishful thinking from LeBron?

It's commendable for the 20-time All-Star to believe that he and the younger James can coexist like regular teammates. However, that might be too idealistic, considering that many pundits have attributed the prospect's entry into the NBA to nepotism.

Some draft boards didn't even forecast him being selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. Yet, the Lakers brought him in with the No. 55 pick.

The move has attracted plenty of criticism, although the 19-year-old guard seemed to have already prepared himself for the daily scrutiny, remarking that he has dealt with " stuff like this for my whole life ."

Related: "You are repeatedly unavailable for the people who pay you" - Stephen A. Smith goes off on Kawhi Leonard for trying to play for Team USA

A struggling Bronny

Perhaps the elder James and his oldest son being on the floor at the same time won't happen too often, at least not in the first months of the 2024-25 season. The University of Southern California product struggled to get buckets in the summer league. He did contribute in areas other than scoring in his second contest, including two steals and three blocks.

Despite filling out the stat sheet, Bronny has failed to prove that he could become an elite defender in the big league. There have been possessions when he got cooked by opposing ball handlers, and his height appears to have the potential to make him a defensive liability.

The good news for the youngster is that he has LeBron as a mentor, although he and people watching the Lakers shouldn't be surprised if he spends a lot of his days in the G League instead of sitting on the same bench as his dad/teammate.

Related: Jason Whitlock accuses LeBron of turning Bronny into ‘Make-a-Wish’ boy: “Everybody in the media is going to play along”