“This isn’t business of pleasing LeBron!” Ex-Mavericks star rules out Bronny James ‘bump up’ to Lakers squad

Chandler Parsons said that Bronny James will have to earn his stripes if he aspires to play for the Lakers.

“This isn’t business of pleasing LeBron!” Ex-Mavericks star rules out Bronny James ‘bump up’ to Lakers squad

Bronny James on bench with his dad, LeBron James

The biggest headline this year across any professional sport was a father and son sharing the same court together. However, the bigger the milestone, the higher the level of scrutiny. Since then, many players have taken shots at Bronny James, calling him a “nepo naby.” Although there might be some weight to their arguments, Bronny has since proved that he can truly play.

He was demoted to the G League so he could further develop himself and adapt to the pace of the NBA. And he did just that. He achieved a 30-point career-high game with the South Bay Lakers. But that doesn’t mean the criticism would cease.

YouTube video

During an appearance on Run It Back, another former player, Chandler Parsons, gave their two cents on the situation.

FS Video

I think bumping Bronny [James] up to the NBA stunts his growth. This isn’t the business of pleasing LeBron James. It’s the business of winning basketball games, and Bronny James won’t help the Lakers win basketball games right now. But he can help in the G League… [The Lakers] don’t bump guys to the NBA level because of their last name.

Chandler Parsons stated

Essentially, Parsons implied that Bronny will have to earn his stripes if he wants to play in the NBA among the best of the best. While still a diamond in the rough, Bronny has shown flashes of explosiveness on both the defensive and offensive ends.

However, nothing about his game truly stands out yet. For him to be upgraded to the pros, he will need to put in consistent work.

Chandler Parsons isn’t a stranger to putting in the grind. Having played in the league for almost a decade and for four different teams, he has invaluable insights to share with the rookie. Speaking from experience, Parsons’ advice to Bronny is that just being James’s son won’t be enough.

LeBron James is already nearing retirement, and when that happens, there’s a high chance that the Lakers might part ways with Bronny as well. After all, at the end of the day, it’s still business.

Lou Williams destroys Dwayne Wade’s bold take on Bronny James

During the same interview on Run It Back, Lou Williams went on to dissect and demolish Dwyane Wade‘s argument, who had made a statement earlier this week regarding Bronny and the Lakers. The basis of Dwyane Wade‘s argument was that, since the Lakers don’t look like a championship team this season, maybe they should consider giving Bronny James more playing time.

YouTube video

Disputing Dwyane Wade’s take on Run It Back, Lou Williams said:

I disagree. This is the Showtime Lakers. They’re not known for developing talent. It’s not like he’s gonna come up and get an opportunity to play a bunch of minutes where he can get that in-game experience that he’ll get with the G League team.

Lou Williams defended Bronny James

Both Parsons and Lou Williams make some valid points about Bronny’s development and the Lakers’ priorities. While the road ahead for the 55th draft pick may be challenging, it’s clear that his journey will require hard work and persistence. Whether or not he makes it to the NBA remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—he has much to prove.

In conclusion, while Bronny James’ potential is undeniable, it’s clear that his journey to the NBA requires more than just the weight of his last name.