Bronny James: Reality Check for NBA Fans

The talk started a few years ago, “LeBron and his son Bronny James could play together one day” and “Whoever drafts Bronny will get LeBron in the process”. Talking heads in the sports world enjoyed coming up with tons of scenarios. It at least gave the dog Days of Summer some juice. It all picked back up when USC came knocking and offered Bronny a scholarship. Could it happen? Could LeBron and his son be a duo in the league for a year or two? I am here to say simply…no.

I am one of the first who would be disappointed in this scenario never taking place, I thought Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. playing together was one of the coolest things in the world. Let’s be honest, it isn’t impossible for father and son to share the field professionally in almost any sports. The only one that has a path of least resistance is golf, and that could lead to Tiger and Charlie Woods battling it out on Sunday one day. Having the possibility in the NBA? Apart from seeming outrageous,  Bronny gave hope.

The Facts

Now, we have an 18 game sample from The Kings son. In the case of Bronny the stats don’t jump off the page, in fact, they stay on the page until it’s a blowout. He isn’t an NBA player, at least not this year. I get teams and fans were hoping he would be decent enough to warrant a draft selection. It would do him no good to enter the draft at years end. Additionally a team that even considers it would be doing so hoping LeBron would sign with them over the summer. A perfect example is the OKC Thunder, they are fantastic and adding LeBron would help. Should they waste a top 15 pick on a current G league talent? Let’s not forget that LeBron will be turning 40 next year and even the greatest of all time will decline at some point

Bronny just isn’t at the point yet where his skills warrant being drafted. Furthermore, it would be unfair to him to be put into an impossible position. Get drafted, try to coerce your dad to go where you are, and succeed. Even Michael Jordans kids couldn’t live up to their fathers hype. Both fizzled out after college, though once secured the rebound with Scottie Pippens wife. Let’s be clear, I want to see Bronny succeed, I want that father son moment on the court. The truth is though, it may have to wait another year for Bronny to get healthy and strengthen his game.

And that is ok.