As an athlete, it’s a dream to play long enough to share the stage with your child, as not many have the caliber to do so. However, as a dad, seeing your kid take their first professional strides is indescribable. For LeBron James , amid the constant buzz about which team will draft his firstborn in 2024, he and his family are simply proud of Bronny for working hard and achieving his dream of becoming an NBA player, especially after the prospects seemed bleak a year ago.
"For myself and Savannah to be there at the Combine this past week in Chicago, to see him out there with other kids trying to be able to live out their dream, it was pretty remarkable… exciting… for our entire family," James told JJ Redick on Mind The Games Podcast .
LeBron on Bronny having a real picture of his place and game
After shutting down all those who questioned his decision to enter the 2024 draft, Bronny made his presence felt in the Drafy Combine by knocking 12 straight 3-pointers, recording the second-bet 40.5-inch vertical, and scoring a team-high point tally in the scrimmage session, showcasing how he has the knack for becoming a lethal two-way threat.
More importantly, in his post-session interview, unlike those upcoming rookies who unrealistically aim for lofty goals like MVP or All-Star honors, the 19-year-old focused on improving his game. He mentioned his admiration for strong defensive perimeter defenders like Jrue Holiday and Derek White, who impact their teams’ success in countless ways. Discussing this point, the four-time MVP appreciated how Bronny has figured out his own place in the NBA and whom he wants to model his game after.
"I want him to figure it out on his own where he sees himself fit in the NBA... to see him mention guys like Derek White, Jrue Holiday… a few other guys Marcus Smart, Davion Mitchell… there are the guys who like come in, and for a team who wants to win a championship, that want to win every night - these are the players that you have on your team," James added.
"They just doesn’t always show up in the box scores, but always show up in the winning plays, and for Bronny to have perspective on where he stands today, that’s great."
James says he is not Bronny
Lastly, recognizing the immense pressure that comes with being his son, James commended Bronny for how well he has managed the criticism and questions about his future.
The 20-time All-Star also praised Bronny for choosing to forge his own path, disregarding the daily speculations, and remaining focused on developing his game, regardless of the results.
"I'm not him. I won't be able to handle the scrutiny and all the things that he got going on - at his age, at his level with social media when I came in at 18 I did have a lot of scrutiny I did have a lot of things that was put on my shoulders but I didn't have you know you know every single day around the clock news coverage, sports shows things talking about this particular person every single day," James concluded.
"You go online or on social media and X (Twitter) and Instagram, and everyone can comment every single day about whatever they want… to see him handle it with such class… super proud of him."
Concluding the segment, the LA Lakers star sounded thankful for his firstborn for setting the right example for his siblings, admitting that as a parent, he couldn’t be happier.
Related: "Was not allowed to play football by mom" - Bronny James reveals one key reason why he couldn't explore a career in the NFL
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