Bronny James’ second NBA season has already looked dramatically different from his first, and no one is appreciating that evolution more than LeBron James.
He spent much of his rookie year splitting time between the Lakers and the G League, and made history by sharing an NBA court with his father.
Although he’s back in the G League for now, Bronny stepped into a real role this season as Los Angeles battles early backcourt injuries.
And LeBron couldn’t be more proud.
“It’s been great. You know, not only as a father but just as a student of the game,” LeBron said speaking at length about Bronny’s development on the “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash. “To see someone use what he was able to do last year in the G League, use that to get more comfortable, then go into Summer League and be even more comfortable. And when his time has been called this year, just continue to feel good about it. I think in those games where Luka was out or AR was out or Marcus was out, I think we had back-to-back games at home. I forgot who we played at home, but then we were in Portland, I was super proud of him, and of the maturation process to not only play well at home, but then to have a back-to-back in a tough environment in Portland and do it again. That’s what the NBA is all about.
“When we’re in practice and in games and things of that nature, it’s the leadership. I’m one of the guys and one of the leaders of the team. But we have our side time where I can, you know, tell him about what I’ve seen or whatever. But I just want him to walk his own journey, and I can give him the blueprint and I can give him some of the things that I’ve seen, but I want him to walk through the fire as well.”
