Bronny James’ dreams have finally come true: he’s officially in the NBA.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected LeBron James’ son with the 55th overall pick, which caused the eldest scion of the James family in tears. For King James and his family, it’s a momentous occasion that will become a major talking point for family events moving forward.
However, not everyone shares in the joy of Bronny finally making the big leagues. Many will point to his painfully lackluster season at USC as a major pain point that caused the younger James to fall all the way down to 55.
While Bronny’s rookie season will be heavily scrutinized due to possible nepotism, that’s not the only contentious talking point the young guard has created.
He made a controversial statement when asked about who he would pick from a selection of all-time greats that involve his dad.
Bronny James starts LeBron and cuts Michael Jordan in pre-NBA Draft 2024 interview question
As part of the Draft process, every notable prospect in the 2024 class was asked candid (and possibly difficult) questions involving basketball. It was meant to drum up excitement for the upcoming batch of rookies by letting their off-court personalities shine.
One of the questions asked was who the prospects would start, bench, or cut out of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan.
It’s meant to be a tough question that would showcase who the young bucks would consider as the most important player the NBA has ever seen.
Bronny James had an interesting response when it was his turn to address the query:
Bronny says he’d start LeBron, bench Kobe, and cut MJ 👀
(h/t @HoodiHachimura) pic.twitter.com/Ow7Pipxkvb
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 27, 2024
It makes sense that Bronny would choose his father to start among the three. LeBron has the biggest impact on Bronny’s decision to take on the same path he did. However, the decision to cut Michael Jordan may have come out of left field for some.
Many still consider the Chicago Bulls legend to be the greatest basketball player to ever grace the NBA hardwood. His outstanding offensive game, gritty approach to defense, and impressive athleticism helped him become one of the best players the league has ever seen.
Kobe had just as impressive of a career as LeBron or Michael, so the choices one may make in this hypothetical question is more a matter of taste than anything else.
Bronny made it clear where his loyalties lie.
Will Bronny James have a successful career with the Los Angeles Lakers?
While Bronny is no stranger to making controversial statements, the question that still lingers in many Lakers fans’ minds is whether Bronny has what it takes to succeed in the NBA without his father’s help.
His college stats say otherwise: in the 25 games he played for the USD Trojans, the former Sierra Canyon standout averaged a measly 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists a game. While he inherited his father’s superb athleticism, his skillset may become a liability when he plays against faster and more physical opposition.
It remains to be seen if Bronny James will actually succeed in the NBA. Only time will tell if he does deserve the spot he got.
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