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Stephen A. Smith wants LeBron James to throw the damn towel on Bronny James’ NBA prospects for the time being.
Following an awful showing by Bronny on Tuesday vs. the 76ers, Smith put on his acting shoes and implored the elder James to stop the perceived facade.
“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: stop this. Stop this,” Smith said on “First Take” on Wednesday. “We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad. The first game of the season, opening night, the Griffeys in attendance, father-son duo playing in an NBA game for first time, an absolutely, positively wonderful story. And then reality sets in.
“We love what we’re seeing from him in the G League because that’s where you belong as you honed your skills and you get better and you legitimately earn, which I believe he has the potential to do, I am rooting for Bronny James, it would be cruel to root against him. He’s a wonderful kid, I wish him nothing but the best. But he’s LeBron James’ son and everybody knows what attention that brings.”
“I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father. Stop this.” 😳 @stephenasmith reacts to Bronny James’ play in the Lakers 118-104 loss to the 76ers. pic.twitter.com/bk5D0DS42N— First Take (@FirstTake) January 29, 2025
Bronny’s NBA credentials have been questioned since the Lakers selected him in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft following an underwhelming freshman season with USC.
His production did not warrant a pick, but many understood that the Lakers may have been doing LeBron a favor.
Bronny has the chance to be a solid NBA player, but he likely needed more seasoning following an inconsistent freshman season after suffering cardiac arrest.
Many celebrated the Jameses making history on opening night when they became the first father-son duo to take the court together in an NBA game, but reality has since sunk in.
Bronny is averaging 0.3 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists across 13 games.
He’s hit just 1-of-16 shots, including 0-for-7 from 3-point range.
Bronny played a career-high 15 minutes in Tuesday’s 118-104 loss, missing all five of his shots including three from deep.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said he “maybe put him in a tough spot” with the assignment.
“You know what people are saying. You know what they’re going to do to this kid,” Smith said. “In 13 games, he has played 44 minutes. He has scored four points, he is shooting 1-of-16 from the field, 0-for-7 from 3-point range. How are you doing him favors? We know that he’s not ready yet. And I’m saying this with compassion, I’m asking the greatest player in the game … You know what these numbers mean. You know what it’s going to do to your son, to people that are missing out on opportunities, that are busting their tail on other NBA teams and the G League and Europe and everywhere else, what kind of opportunity they are starving for? You’re exposing your son like this.”
Bronny has played much better in the G League, averaging 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists across nine games.
He’s shooting 36.6 percent from the field, but just 21.2 percent from deep.
LeBron, though, believes these NBA opportunities will only help him in the long run.
“Obviously, it’s his first extensive minutes with us,” LeBron said, per ESPN. “We had that first game where it was just a moment — and that was a great moment. But (Tuesday) was his first opportunity to be with the big guys, be with the big club, and he’s going to continue to use that and get better and better.”
