In his first official press conference as a member of the Lakers, Bronny James answered many questions about life, the NBA, and about his development as a player. He also exposed the realities of playing with his dad, LeBron , who happens to be one of the most renowned athletes on the planet.
"For sure an amplified amount of pressure," James said. "I've already seen it on social media and stuff talking about how I might not deserve an opportunity. There's a lot of people that have something to say, but I've been dealing with stuff like this for my whole life, so it's nothing different. It's more amplified for sure but I get through it."
James was open and honest about the pressure, and it's a good sign that he's embracing everything that comes with being a member of such an iconic family. And while he may have a kinder grace period than most rookies, it's not such an easy thing for him to live up to expectations as the "heir" to LeBron's kingdom.
At the very least, Bronny seems well-trained to handle the media and it's a trait he likely picked up from King James himself. Dating back to his days at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points per game, Bronny has always said the right things and he's made it a point to portray himself as the ultimate hard worker and team player.
From the beginning, there were serious doubts about Bronny's chances of sustaining a long NBA career. We have yet to see him in action since the draft, but his underwhelming college campaign did not do a lot to settle the concerns.
As part of the only father/son teammate pairing in NBA history , James is facing enormous pressure to live up to the hype and validate his place on the team. At just 6'2", James Jr. lacks the physical advantages of LeBron but he plays with a certain poise and understanding that is difficult to teach.
With so much of the story left untold, it will be up to Bronny to set how people remember his NBA debut. We've only seen glimpses of greatness here and there, but the young athlete is committed to expanding his game.
Bronny Reveals The Message He Received From LeBron
While the jury is still out on Bronny's potential as a player, his ceiling may be limitless given the resources he can use to grow his game. Throughout the summer, and into his rookie campaign, Bronny will work overtime to enhance his abilities on both ends of the floor.
He will also consider the advice of his dad, who already had some things to say when he was first drafted by the Lakers.
"We haven't gone too deep into that stuff yet," James said. "Especially because we haven't even started summer league yet. But it's just stuff that he's been telling me my whole life. Just having that work ethic and putting that work in and listening to your coaches and being coachable."
Bronny wasn't the biggest, fastest, or strongest player in this year's draft but that may not matter if he can outwork them. Bronny, just like LeBron, is willing and hungry to expand his bag of tricks and they only get better with time.
James, 19, still has a long way to go before he can be considered a true NBA rotation player but he's got arguably the best support system of any teenager in the league. Between LeBron, Rob Pelinka, and new head coach JJ Redick, Bronny is set up for success and he's ready to respond to all the pressure and make a statement to the world.
Related: LeBron James Could Play With Bronny And Bryce If He Stays In The NBA Until 2026-27 Season
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