Bronny James is now worried about the added pressure stemming from his father, LeBron James’ legendary status. Drafted 55th overall after one season at the University of Southern California (USC), Bronny, 19, expressed his readiness to tackle the skepticism and prove his merit independently.
“For sure there’s an amplified amount of pressure,” Bronny said during his introductory press conference ahead of his first practice with the Lakers. He admitted encountering doubts on social media about his deservingness but emphasized his lifelong experience in dealing with such skepticism. “I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life so it’s nothing different. It’s more amplified for sure, but I’ll get through it.”
Bronny conveyed his ambition to establish his own legacy separate from his father’s illustrious career. “I’m just living by the days and trying not to care about what other people think about me because there are a lot of people who have something to say,” he said. “I’m just taking it by the day and staying sane while doing it.”
“I never really had a thought about me going to play with my dad”
Bronny James has mastered the art of lying much like his father
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 2, 2024
He expressed gratitude towards new Lakers head coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka for their support, but Redick downplayed this, emphasizing that Bronny’s selection was based on his potential and capabilities.