As the Los Angeles Lakers continue their six-game preseason, 20-time All-Star combo forward LeBron James is suiting up alongside his eldest son, 20-year-old point guard Bronny James. Los Angeles selected the 6-foot-2 former USC Trojan with the No. 55 pick in this past June’s 2024 NBA Draft.
Read more: Bronny James, Son of LeBron, Drafted by Lakers in Second Round of NBA Draft
The dynamic duo suited up together for the first time on Sunday, Oct. 6, during an eventual 118-114 preseason game defeat to the Phoenix Suns. They’ll have their first opportunity to play together in a game that counts on Tuesday, Oct. 22, against the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves.
Though LeBron only suited up for 16:20 of first-half action, the 6-foot-9 vet still put up an impressive stat line of 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor (2-of-3 from long range) and 1-of-1 shooting from the foul line, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
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Bronny, however, appeared in 13:25, but scored no points while going just 0-of-1 from the floor. He pulled down two rebounds and turned the ball over four times.
ESPN’s top personality, analyst Stephen A. Smith, weighed in on the Lakers taking a flier on Bronny James during a recent episode of his YouTube program The Stephen A. Smith Show. Smith essentially contended that LeBron James, who has won four titles, four league MVP awards, and been named to 20 All-NBA teams, has put in the work to earn a little special pull when it comes to fringe roster selection.
“He’s done a lot. He deserves this. Bronny is Bronny, but it ain’t about Bronny, it’s about Bron, as in LeBron,” Smith opined. “He deserves this.”
Criticism against Bronny James has been loud. The young guard had an underwhelming one-and-done NCAA season at USC and has struggled mightily on both ends of the hardwood through Summer League and now a pair of preseason games.
Smith recommends that critics “stand back, fall back, chill the hell out, and let the man do his thing with his son, and let’s see what and how Bronny develops in the years to come.”
Last year, LeBron James appeared in 71 games for the 47-35 Lakers, averaging 25.7 points while slashing .540/.410/.750, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.5 rejections a night. During the offseason, he inked a two-year, $101.4 million deal to stay with Los Angeles for what would be a record-breaking 23rd pro season.
The 6-foot-9 vet has a player option for 2025-26. He seems likely to be one of the bright lights of this season, too, even on the cusp of his 40th birthday in December.
Read more: Lakers, LeBron James Agree to Massive New Contract — With One Surprise
“When we think about the NBA and what it has become in the $76 billion, 11-year deal,they recently signed with various television networks and streaming operations, I got news for you, ‘Is that possible if it were not for LeBron James?’ You have any idea what LeBron James has done for the game of basketball?” Smith observed. “And for him to have his son on the team with him, I got no issues with it whatsoever… LeBron James has earned that.”
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