Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has found himself in a social media storm after he took issue with a post from a social media aggregator that indicated ESPN no longer projects his son, Bronny James, to be selected in the 2024 NBA draft, instead placing him in the 2025 draft process. James, known for his passionate defense of his family, initially responded to the post but later deleted it, which drew criticism from some fans.
In the since-deleted post on X, formerly Twitter, James urged people to let his son enjoy college basketball and emphasized that Bronny’s hard work and results would speak for themselves, regardless of what mock drafts might say. He also expressed his support for other young athletes facing similar scrutiny. However, some fans accused James of hypocrisy, pointing to previous comments where he allegedly said Bronny could play for the Lakers “right now.”
The Lakers have reportedly shown interest in adding Bronny to their roster, which could be a factor in James’ desire for a multi-year contract with the team, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. However, former NBA guard Austin Rivers cautioned that the spotlight on Bronny might be too intense.
Despite the controversy, there were fans who sympathized with James, suggesting that he may have realized he set unfair expectations for his son and that this could be why he deleted the post. Bronny James, currently playing for the USC Trojans, has been averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists this season. While he has started six of his 19 appearances, his performance as a starter has been less efficient than when he comes off the bench.
It’s worth noting that many players have gone on to have successful NBA careers despite not excelling in college, and Bronny James could potentially follow a similar path.
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