To say that Bronny James is the most polarizing player in the Los Angeles Lakers roster is an understatement. Ever since the Lakers picked him with the 55th pick of the 2024 Draft, some pockets of the NBA fandom have called his entry into the league one of the worst sporting decisions a professional sports team ever made.
The fans kept their harsh criticisms of the Lakers’ newest #9 after a disappointing Summer League debut, but reports showed that the team was planning to give Bronny as much playing time as possible to get him used to life in the NBA.
However, James Jr. was noticeably absent from the Lakers’ second game against the Golden State Warriors due to a knee injury. The coaching staff decided that putting Bronny at risk of further injury would only hurt his potential, so they decided to shelve him.
While the move meant well, the fans only saw it as further proof that nepotism has made its way into the league.
Fans bash the Los Angeles Lakers for decision to bench Bronny James
Mike Trudell reported that Bronny James dealt with swelling in his left knee. Even though the injury wasn’t severe, the Lakers’ Summer League staff erred on the side of caution.
Fans didn’t feel pleased with the move and aired out their frustrations on social media. Per The Spun’s Andrew Holleran:
“If his name was John Smith, he’s 100 percent playing in this game,” one fan wrote.
“Yeah, this kid has no hope man. He barely played this season and his team was out early in the college season. There’s no respect n for him to be load-managing at 19 y/o. Stuff like this is why people won’t let up on him smh 🤦🏾♂️. I can’t even defend him here…” one fan added.
“Latest on Bronny. Not unexpected when you’re ramping up activity, esp for a player who hasn’t played much ball over the past year or so,” one fan added.
“Dawg, load management at 19 years old is crazy. He needs all the reps he can get,” one fan added.
In the single Summer League game Bronny played for the Los Angeles Lakers, he only made two of his nine shot attempts. He showcased glimpses of quality by grabbing two rebounds, producing two assists, and notching a steal. However, These numbers are far from enough if Bronny will have a successful NBA career.
The jury’s still out on whether Bronny James belongs in the NBA, but the early optics aren’t providing an encouraging picture.
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