Gilbert Arenas discusses Bronny James' impact as an influencer rather than just a basketball player. He argues that the scrutiny faced by James is not reflective of his draft position or potential contributions to the Lakers
During a recent episode of his "Gil's Arena" podcast, three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas presented a distinctive viewpoint on the way Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, is evaluated in the basketball community.
Arenas emphasized that many observers focus solely on James' on-court performance, neglecting the broader context of his role as an influencer.
"Everybody's judging the basketball game, but nobody's judging him as an influencer," Arenas stated, suggesting that the perception of James should encompass more than just his statistics.
Bronny James was selected with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
His selection has garnered significant attention, in part due to his familial connections.
Arenas highlighted that James' popularity far exceeds that of a typical second-round pick, pointing out that he has more followers on social media than notable athletes like Patrick Mahomes.
"He literally has more [followers] than a three-time NFL champion," Arenas noted, underscoring the substantial influence James holds beyond the basketball court.
Despite facing challenges during the preseason, where he is averaging only 1.0 point and 1.0 rebound per game while shooting just 12.5% from the field, Arenas argued that expectations should be tempered given James' draft position.
He suggested that players selected in the same range typically do not face the same level of scrutiny.
"The same types of scrutiny and judgment aren't given to players taken in the same range of the draft," he explained, reinforcing the notion that Bronny's visibility amplifies the expectations placed upon him.
Arenas also addressed criticism from former Lakers player DeMarcus Cousins, who claimed that selecting James indicated a lack of seriousness regarding the franchise's competitive ambitions.
In response, Arenas challenged the validity of such criticism
"Let me know who was a better choice at 55 that was going to help the franchise." Arenas asked.
He pointed out that many players selected in that range often do not make significant impacts and that Bronny James deserves the opportunity to develop without excessive pressure.
Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.
