“There’s definitely amplified pressure,” Bronny James, 19, said at his introductory press conference Tuesday before his first workout with the Los Angeles Lakers. According to The Athletic, Bronny, the 55th overall pick in the draft, has signed a multi-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, a rarity for a late second-rounder.
“I’ve seen that pressure on social media and on the internet before, where people say I don’t deserve a chance. But I’ve been dealing with this stuff my whole life, so this is no different. It’s more amplified, for sure, but I’ll get through it,” said LeBron James’ son.
His father, LeBron James (39), declined his option for the 2024-25 season but is expected to re-sign with the Lakers. Reports suggest the delay in signing LeBron is due to the Lakers’ desire to add another seasoned veteran. ESPN reports that LeBron told general manager Rob Pelinka that he would accept less money if Los Angeles could sign a quality free agent, such as DeMar DeRozan.
An intriguing potential
Right after being fired by Bronny James, new Lakers coach JJ Redick made a point of correcting himself: “Rob (Pelinka) and I didn’t give Bronny anything. He earned that through hard work,” he said as LeBron watched intently.
Bronny, whose college season was cut short by a cardiac arrest last summer, has tremendous potential, Redick said. “His athleticism, his offense, his defense, his shooting, his passing — there’s a lot to like about his game,” he said. “As we build our player development program holistically, he’s going to have the opportunity to become a great NBA player.”
2024-07-02 22:50:26
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