Stephen A. Smith makes a big admission about Bronny James
There have been many people who have doubted whether Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, has the ability to someday become a legitimate NBA rotation player. Even after he had some very good games in the G League in recent weeks, the skepticism persisted.
But after the 20-year-old rookie went 7-of-10 from the field and scored 17 points, to go along with five assists, in the Los Angeles Lakers' loss on Thursday to the Milwaukee Bucks, there is now a proof of concept as far as him possible making it in the big leagues.
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith recently pleaded with the elder James on the air to, in his mind, stop pushing the younger James into playing in NBA games, which led to a brief incident between the two. He has steadfastly claimed he never criticized the younger James, and on Friday, he complimented the guard during an episode of "First Take."
"I was very impressed, because I saw an elevation in his level of confidence and poise. It didn't really phase him, he didn't look as nervous as he had looked in previous appearance on the basketball court. He looked like someone that belonged."
Smith then said he may have been wrong about the doubts he said he had about whether the younger James could succeed in the NBA.
"This is the big picture here that I want to bring up: I might've been wrong. … My position was all along, Bronny James needed to be in the G League. Let him be in the G League for his first year, and then after that, let him come on, because I've always believed that this kid has the potential, once I watched him, to be in the NBA. But what I saw last night made me say to myself, 'Wait a minute.'"
"I've always believed that this kid has the potential, once I watched him, to be in the NBA." - Stephen A. Smith on Bronny James pic.twitter.com/AhhVSU8ocd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 21, 2025
Granted, Thursday's performance was just one game, and perhaps the younger James won't duplicate it the rest of this season in the NBA. But it was a big step forward for him as far as his quest, as well as his father's quest, to become worthy of a spot in an NBA team's rotation.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Stephen A. Smith makes a big admission about Bronny James
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