Former NBA star takes shot at Lakers for Bronny James experiment: 'They aren't really serious'

As the NBA season approaches, one of the main storylines is the tandem of LeBron and Bronny James, as the two will become the first father-son pair to play in a game together in NBA history.

The expectation is that on Opening Night, when the Lakers host the Timberwolves on Tuesday, that both LeBron and Bronny will play together at some point to make history.

Many people have criticized this plan, as Bronny James has struggled through preseason thus far. That includes former NBA players, with the latest being former NBA center DeMarcus Cousins.

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What did DeMarcus Cousins say about Bronny James?

Cousins appeared on FanDuel's "Run It Back" show Wednesday, and when he was asked about the Lakers' plan for Bronny James, he didn't mince words.

"As far as the Lakers actually competing, I don't know, I take that as a sign that they aren't really serious," Cousins said. "With the way their season ended last year with the high expectations, I expected more from them as far as making moves...they had a lot of concerns last year that I don't think really were addressed."

Cousins did make sure to praise Lebron James' off-the-court work, as the veteran has made an impact in many areas beyond basketball.

"I love everything that [LeBron] stands for," he said. "I think what Bron is doing with his legacy, as a businessman and everything that comes with that, I think it's a beautiful thing."

Cousins played for seven teams in his 12-year career, most recently with the Bucks and Nuggets during the 2021-22 season. Last year, Cousins played basketball in Taiwan for the Taiwan Beer Leopards.

Bronny James preseason stats

Bronny James, 20, has played in all four Lakers preseason game so far, averaging 11 minutes per contest. But he has just four points in four games, and he failed to score in two.

James' struggles have made him arguably the worst player in the NBA during preseason thus far, as he has a 12.5% field-goal percentage and hasn't made a three-pointer yet.

Los Angeles has two more preseason games left, so James still has a chance to end training camp on a high note. Still, his performance has not inspired even former NBA players to believe he is ready for the season.