One of LeBron James’ former Miami Heat teammates, Udonis Haslem, recently shared his thoughts on LeBron’s son, Bronny James, amid ongoing discussions about the young player’s NBA prospects. While LeBron is focused on competing in the Paris Olympics, opinions about Bronny, a second-round draft pick for the Los Angeles Lakers, continue to emerge.
Haslem praised Bronny’s readiness and preparation for his NBA career. On “The OGs” podcast, Haslem highlighted how LeBron and his team approach opportunities with careful planning and strategic thinking, rather than taking random chances. “There is no other kid that could possibly be more prepared for this particular situation or who can handle this particular situation,” Haslem stated. He expressed confidence in Bronny’s future, noting that the James family’s approach is meticulous and well-calculated. “They are calculated. They don’t do that. They are sharp. They are smart. There is nobody more prepared than Bronny James. I’m wishing them the best,” Haslem added.
Despite Haslem’s optimism, some skepticism surrounds Bronny’s NBA prospects. Critics suggest that Bronny’s opportunity in the league is largely due to his father’s fame rather than his own abilities. This sentiment was echoed by Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown during a Lakers Summer League game, where he was overheard expressing doubts about Bronny’s professional potential. Brown was caught on camera discussing with WNBA free agent Kysre Gondrezick, saying, “I don’t think Bronny is a pro,” to which Gondrezick responded, “I think he’ll be on the G-League team for sure.” Brown replied, “I don’t think so. I think because of his name he’ll be on the Lakers.”
Bronny’s Summer League performance started slowly, but he began to show improvement in his later games. Over the last two games of the Summer League, he scored 25 points, shooting 10-of-21 from the field and 3-of-8 from three-point range, demonstrating progress in his jump shot and defensive play.
Bronny was initially expected to be a first-round draft pick, but his draft prospects were affected by a cardiac arrest incident he suffered while at USC. Although there were considerations for him to remain in college to boost his draft position, he opted to enter the NBA Draft and was ultimately selected by the Lakers with the 55th pick.
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