Charles Barkley isn’t sugarcoating it: Bronny James, the Lakers’ rookie and son of basketball royalty LeBron James, has been a massive letdown so far. Ahead of the new NBA season, all eyes were on Bronny, but instead of fireworks, it’s been fizzle after fizzle on the court. Despite the hype and his famous last name, his early performances have been—let’s face it—forgettable. But is anyone actually surprised? The young guy might have NBA legend LeBron as a dad, but not every rookie can waltz into the league and dominate.
While most experts weren’t expecting Bronny to start hitting clutch shots right out of the gate, Barkley still went all-in with a brutally honest take. Calling Bronny an “unfinished product,” Barkley basically said that unless this kid gets serious development, he’ll be inconsistent, struggling to keep up with the weekly grind of the NBA. Barkley’s right—NBA life is a whole different beast, and wearing the Lakers’ colors doesn’t make it any easier, especially with the pressure of that last name.
And then there’s Magic Johnson, Lakers legend and purple-and-gold icon, who flat-out said he didn’t like the idea of Bronny suiting up for the Lakers in the first place. Johnson isn’t convinced Bronny has what it takes to wear the legendary Lakers jersey, saying it brings attention that Bronny just isn’t ready for. And with a mere 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny’s lack of college ball experience made the choice even more controversial.
Sure, Lakers head coach JJ Redick and GM Rob Pelinka have offered the rookie some encouragement, praising his grit and hunger to improve. But so far, that’s all talk. Bronny did flash some promise as a McDonald’s All-American in high school, but his one season at USC was barely a warm-up, plagued by a heart issue and limited court time. Despite the hype, he only managed 19.3 minutes per game across a measly 25 games.
Bottom line? Being LeBron’s kid isn’t enough to survive the NBA. Bronny’s getting a rude awakening, and Barkley, Johnson, and countless fans are just hoping he can keep up. If not, his rookie season might be nothing more than a hard lesson in reality.
