Bronny James confronts media narratives, saying he tries to let criticism go in one ear and out the other, using it as fuel to work harder every day and improve his game: "People think I'm a f**king robot, like I don't have any feelings or emotions."
Being the son of arguably the greatest basketball player ever, LeBron James, is no easy feat, and Bronny James has felt the pressure firsthand. Many believe the Lakers drafted Bronny solely because of his father, and he has faced that criticism head-on.
Bronny James
| Team: |
Los Angeles Lakers |
| Position: | PG, SG |
| Age: | 20 |
| Height: | 191 cm |
| Weight: | 82 kg |
| Birth place: | Akron, United States of America |
"My first thought about everything is I always try to just let it go through one ear and out the other, put my head down, and come to work and be positive every day," Bronny told Joe Vardon of The Athletic. "But sometimes it just fuels me a little bit. I see everything that people are saying, and people think, like, I'm a f**king robot, like I don't have any feelings or emotions.
"But I just take that and use it as fuel for me to go out, wake up every day and get to the gym early, get my extra work in, watch my extra film every day, get better every day," the 20-year-old added. "That's what Rob [Pelinka] wants me to do as a young guy, coming in, playing in the G League, and learning from far on the bench watching the Lakers play."
The media coverage surrounding Bronny reached a peak during the LA Lakers' victory over the New York Knicks on March 6, when LeBron confronted ESPN's Stephen A. Smith in a moment captured on camera.
Despite the scrutiny, Bronny has made significant strides in the G League, showcasing improved confidence, shooting, and playmaking, according to Raj Chipalu of ClutchPoints, who closely follows the Lakers' G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
However, questions remain about his readiness for the NBA: "I don't think he's ready yet to be a backup point guard or anything like that," Chipalu noted.
This season, Bronny has played a total of 98 minutes in 21 games for the LA Lakers, averaging 1.6 points and 0.4 assists per game.
In contrast, he is averaging 20.6 points, shooting 36.1 percent from three-point range, along with 5.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists in nine games in the G League.
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