Paul George may not be active on the basketball court right now, but he remains active on his podcast, Podcast P with Paul George. In his most recent episode, George and his two guests go all in on the Bronny James conversation. They dived into nuances surrounding his father, his NBA future, and the pressure that will surely come his way as his NBA journey unfolds. George weighed in from his perspective and showed support for the younger James.
Long-Time LeBron James Foe Weighs In on Bronny’s NBA Future
Paul George Calls ‘Fair Game’ on Bronny James
With the No.55 pick in the 2024 draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected the heir of LeBron James. It was a move that was immediately hit with criticism from all sides. The Lakers have never been a franchise to remain in the shadows. The exposure from drafting Bronny was simply more exposure on top of decades’ worth. Bronny started the regular season on the Lakers roster. History occurred when he checked in with his father during the Lakers season opener. He did not see the floor again until Wednesday’s matchup in Cleveland against the Cavaliers. Whatever this season holds for him, Bronny will likely be subjected to scrutiny and a target for many.
George, the former Indiana Pacers star who battled LeBron many times in the Eastern Conference years ago, shared his thoughts on Bronny’s introduction into the NBA and the scrutiny that will follow.
” I mean obviously I think it’s fair game, I don’t think he should be protected because he’s Bron’s son. Everybody’s gonna get criticized, the fact of the matter is, yeah he was the 55th pick, but he’s also the son of the best, or one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball.”
George further stated that he believes it to be unfair to some degree that Bronny isn’t allowed to navigate and find himself in the NBA. Bronny likely doesn’t view his last name as a burden. However, the burden of carrying the “James” name has to carry its challenges of some form. Just consider what that name has accomplished in two-plus decades.
Finding His Way, His Own Way
The truth is, Bronny will likely not get a fair shake as his basketball career progresses. He’ll never be as good as his father, but that will probably not stop the outside noise, pressure, and scrutiny of his game. George spoke on this in more detail.
“…this is a kid who’s trying to find his way in the NBA and trying to live out his dreams. No one starts out perfect at anything; no one looks great at anything. He’s trying to find his way, he’s trying to find the NBA game, he’s trying to figure this out while doing something that no one else has ever done before him—no one has played with their father. That could be a whole different level of pressure to play with your father. As good as it is to have his dad along for the journey, he’s the only person who can speak to what that’s like to play with your father.”
Bronny’s life and future changed the second the Lakers drafted him. He must figure out the best way to navigate the league and focus on being himself. Not who everyone expects him to be, and certainly not his father. After the Lakers five-game road trip concludes, Bronny is expected to head down to the G League to develop and grow as a basketball player. The move gives him the best chance to improve, which I’m sure he will work extremely hard to achieve. That being said, wherever Bronny James plays, Paul George is almost certainly right—it will be fair game.
