Having an all-time great for a father has its fair share of perks. At the same time, it can have many drawbacks, especially when trying to make a name for yourself in the same profession. This is the reality for Bronny James , son of NBA superstar LeBron James , who must now weather the daily cacophony of criticism and scrutiny in his first year with the Los Angeles Lakers . However, this challenge does not faze the 19-year-old, as he mentioned how he has been under this microscope for so long that it's no longer new to him.
Under immense pressure
Being a rookie in the NBA is already a daunting task. Adjusting to the daily grind of a professional hooper's life isn't a walk in the park, from adapting to the quicker pace of the game to juggling media responsibilities to training and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But for Bronny, the pressure is amplified with all eyes on him after his father's squad selected him with the 55th pick in this year's NBA Draft.
His selection was met with a mix of cheers and jeers, with some questioning if his famous last name was the sole reason for being drafted. Many critics and skeptics are waiting to see if he can prove himself worthy of being a legitimate NBA player and not someone whose father's legacy carried him to the big leagues.
"For sure, an amplified amount of pressure. I've already seen it on social media and stuff on the internet, talking about how I might not deserve an opportunity. But I've been dealing with stuff like this my whole life. It's nothing different. It's more amplified for sure, but I can get through it," Bronny said with bold confidence at the Lakers' introductory press conference of their rookies.
Related: Michael Jordan opens up about his older brother Larry not making the NBA: "He has always been a good player, but he just didn't grow enough"
Playing with his father wasn't the main goal
As the former USC Trojan stressed numerous times throughout the draft process, his goal was to hear his name getting announced on draft night. However, he was aware of the possibility ever since "The King" expressed his desire to play with his son not so long ago. That dream eventually became a reality on the second night of the NBA Draft.
"I never really had a thought of me going to play with my dad, but that's always there to take part of. It wasn't a main focus of mine," the 6'2'' guard stressed .
The younger James knows he has a lot of work to do. It wasn't too long ago that he struggled to do well at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points on 36 percent shooting, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in an uninspiring one-and-done season. Despite that, Bronny is in the big league now and ready to go to work.
"Everything has been so surreal. Just trying to take it all in by the days. Extremely grateful for everything that JJ and Rob have given to me. I've just been extremely excited to get to work," James Jr. shared .
There's no denying that Bronny would be behind the eight-ball to start his career. Only time will tell if he can make a name for himself at the next level. But one thing is for sure: he has all the tools to succeed and make a mark in the NBA, following in his father's footsteps.
Related: "That's dope. I get to play with my son" - Paul George believes LeBron James' getting to play with Bronny is another notch in his legacy
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