On a recent episode of the Gil's Arena show, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas spoke passionately about the criticism surrounding Bronny James, son of LeBron James, and how unfair it has been. Arenas pointed out that while Bronny, the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is under an intense microscope, many lottery picks are flying under the radar despite their own struggles.
"Hey, can anybody tell me what the number one pick scored last night? How about the number two pick? The number three pick? So nobody knows nothing about the top 15 picks that."
"That is the problem here that they're focused on the 55th pick in the NBA draft and everybody else the top five picks get to go through the league like nothing... Thank god we got Bronny in our draft."
"Because if there's no Bronny, the kid from the Wizards will be called the bust today. Because if you take Bronny out, he will be last in preseason. So he's worse than Bronny. If we talk about, if we think about the numbers."
"In theory right now, the young kid over there will be considered, he's busting out right now. As a number two pick in the draft, he's busting out. He's not, you're at the bottom with LeBron James's son you're ranked in preseason's first three games."
"We expect the last couple picks to be there, not you sir on a team where you get to do whatever the f**k you want to do. But that's not a narrative nobody wants to talk about."
"Cool! If you like the clicks and you want to talk about the young fella, how bad he's doing, because I know it's going to happen, his daddy has a triple-double, he played one minute, we're going to talk about, oh he was over two, trash! Can't do that."
He emphasized that the attention on Bronny is overshadowing other young players, including those picked much higher in the draft, who are underperforming. Arenas touched on the disparity in expectations for Bronny versus higher picks, like Alex Sarr, who was ranked lower than Bronny in terms of plus-minus stats in the preseason.
While Arenas was slightly off in the numbers, his argument was clear: Bronny, with a -40 plus-minus through his first three preseason games, has been unfairly scrutinized, despite being the 55th pick in the draft—a spot typically reserved for developmental players. By comparison, Sarr, the second overall draft pick, has similarly struggled but isn’t receiving the same level of media criticism.
Bronny’s preseason stats have been modest: he’s played a little over 35 minutes across three games, averaging 0.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game. These numbers, while not eye-catching, should be evaluated in the context of his status as a late second-round pick, not a lottery or even first-round selection. Arenas was quick to remind viewers that Bronny’s development should be viewed through a different lens than that of players picked in the top 5 or top 10.
What many people seem to forget, as Arenas highlighted, is that Bronny is a long-term project. Being a 55th pick, he was never expected to step in and dominate immediately. Unlike lottery picks who are drafted to change the course of a franchise, Bronny’s role for now will be to develop his skills, particularly his offensive game, while showing flashes of his defensive potential.
Arenas also spoke about the unfair expectations placed on Bronny simply because of his last name. With his father being one of the greatest players in NBA history, Bronny is subjected to a level of scrutiny that few other players experience, and that’s despite the fact that he’s barely begun his professional journey.
Bronny is expected to spend significant time in the G-League, honing his game before he can truly make an impact in the NBA. His defensive skills are already being praised, but his offensive game will take time to develop, as it does for many young players.
Gilbert Arenas ' critique was a reminder of how disproportionate the focus on Bronny James has been compared to other rookies, particularly those picked far ahead of him. Bronny is a development player, and it’s important to give him the time and space to grow without prematurely labeling him based on a few preseason performances.
Related: Chandler Parsons: Austin Rivers Getting To Play Under Doc Rivers Is More Strange Than LeBron And Bronny James
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