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Stephen A. Smith makes brutal prediction about Bronny James' Lakers playing time next season
While preexisting skepticism toward Bronny James continues to grow over the summer, Stephen A. Smith made an honest assessment about his place in the Lakers roster next season.
After his equally celebrated and criticized draft selection into his father's team, LeBron James' junior has been at the forefront of media attention while competing in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Three games into the competition, Smith expressed his immediate impression on Bronny's game at this level.
'What we've seen from Bronny James thus far,' Smith said before pausing. 'All I'm going to say is that unless there's vast improvement, the only time we better see him is sitting on the bench or in practice.
'Because if he's out there on the basketball court, nobody's gonna believe that's on his merits.'
Stephen A. Smith said Bronny James will not play for the Lakers unless he vastly improves
Through the first three games in Sin City, the rookie is averaging 7.3 points, three rebounds and .03 assists per game while making 30 per cent of his field goals and shooting 12.5 per cent from three-point range. He is clocking in 25.1 minutes on average.
With cries of nepotism already surrounding his entry into the league given his father's position and his none-NBA worthy numbers, Smith doubled down on how he would be perceived once the season stars.
'They're gonna believe it's because of LeBron James and you already believe in that anyway, and that puts him in a bad spot,' Smith continued. 'Which is why I've never watched him, because I never wanted to have to cover him because I don't wanna do that to the kid.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft
LeBron and Bronny will be the first father and son to play together in the NBA
LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists for the Lakers last season
Bronny is averaging 7.3 points, three rebounds and .03 assists per game in the Summer League
'I wanna give him an opportunity to grow and shine. It ain't his fault that his dad was out there doing what he did in terms of bloviating his name all over the place.'
'And I'm not saying it in an insulting way,' Smith added. 'I'm not trying to be remotely disrespectful to LeBron James. Major props to him, he loves his son that much, man - it's no crime. You're so media savvy, you had to know what kind of pressure this was going to mount on his shoulders.'
The Lakers drafted Bronny with the 55th pick after 25 games and six starts for the USC Trojans.
He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists as his team finished with a 15-18 record, placing ninth in the Pac-12.