In his first big media press conference as a Laker, Bronny James gave a lot of impressive answers that showed off his maturity and humility as a rookie in the league. Unfortunately, he also got some criticism for some comments he made about LeBron . According to Bronny, he "never thought" about playing with his dad but it was a claim that nobody was buying.
“I always try to put that narrative out of me trying to put my name out myself. Just coming in and trying to get better, Rob has told me that there is a great development system here. So can come in, put my work in, and get better every day. I never really had a thought about me going to play with my dad," said James. "But that's always there to take part in."
LeBron said something similar about not being involved in the pursuit of his son but the fans were no more accepting of his claim than they are with Bronny's. In the comments, many fans expressed disbelief over the statement and bashed the young athlete for telling what looked to be a blatant lie.
LeBron is known for manipulating the truth like this and it seems he has passed down the habit to Bronny so he can control the narrative just like he has for the past 20 years.
It should also be mentioned that Bronny's agent, Rich Paul, was allegedly calling teams before the draft to threaten them that he'd play in Australia if they prevented him from joining the Lakers. You don't pull a move like that unless your goal is to join forces with LeBron.
Bronny, 19, said all the right things on paper but people are often smarter than these athletes give them credit for. In this case, the fans saw right through Bronny's claim and they just aren't buying that he had no ambition of joining up with LeBron . Sadly for Bronny, being inauthentic or dishonest tends to invoke the public's rage and he is finding out this lesson the hard way.
It's pretty obvious that the play for the James family, and the Lakers, is to emphasize that Bronny made the NBA on his own merits, without any influence from his dad. It was just by sheer coincidence that they ended up on the same team.
Bronny is still too young to make any definitive judgments on his game or his character but it's clear they are trying to spin a certain kind of narrative and some people are unwilling to play along.
James, 19, has yet to play a single game in a Lakers jersey but claims of nepotism are already in the air after somehow getting picked in the draft while averaging 4.8 points per game on 36% shooting in college.
Of course, it was never Bronny's focus to become his dad's teammate and it's understandable that he'd want to carve out his own legacy outside the shadow of No. 23. But to say that he never thought about an NBA team-up is a hard sell for most.
The strongest critics will claim that James is only in the league at all because of his last name and his relation to LeBron, who engrained him with a winner mentality from the very beginning.
Bronny is not the top prospect this year by any means but he still has a lot to offer the Lakers. As a natural ball-handler and elite playmaker he's the type of player who enhances the teammates around him.
Love him or hate him, Bronny is dedicated to proving himself and showing the world that he belongs in the league as more than just the son of a legend. Winning over the fans will certainly help make things easier but that will be impossible if he isn't more honest and upfront with his intentions.
Related: Bronny James Admits There's "Amplified Pressure" Playing With LeBron
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News . We appreciate your support
Most Popular
Comments / 0