Reviewing Bronny James First Season
The son of the legendary future Hall of Famer Lebron James had his first season in the NBA. Being drafted 55th overall in the NBA Draft and the pick was under much scrutiny. Many NBA fans called the pick a nepotism hire, and it was a tough time at first for Bronny James. Though the Lakers' NBA Summer League games brought in great ratings, because of the commodity, Lebron James' son was inching closer and closer to getting to play with his father. In James Jr.'s first Summer League game against the Houston Rockets, he scored eight points, grabbed five boards, and had two steals.
As the 2024-2025 NBA season started in the Lakers' first game, Bronny James and Lebron James became the first father-son duo to play together. Bronny captured three rebounds in three minutes of play, adding fuel to the fire of his not belonging to the team. His first NBA career points came on October 30th against his father's former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Little by little, Bronny was gaining experience and getting some playing time.
It was clear long before this that he wouldn’t live up to his father's legacy. That did not mean people weren’t willing to give him a chance and cheer for him on every road and home game. Fans understood how blessed and lucky we were even to see him alive, let alone playing basketball. A year before his first summer league game in July 2023, he suffered a cardiac arrest. His legacy will differ from his father's, but his story has already been legendary.
As the season went along and Bronny gained the respect and admiration of the fans, he was assigned to the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers' G League team. His performance skyrocketed, even putting up a couple of 30-point games in the G League and, towards the end of the season, a 40-point game. Bronny James went from a life-threatening health scare to putting up 17 points against the Milwaukee Bucks with a short-handed Lakers team. In comparison, he won’t live up to his father's legacy in the immediate run. On this trajectory, he is on the path to make his legacy that can be legendary in his own right. Combined with his young age and talent, having his father and a legendary organization by his side in due time, he will be successful. That is why I would rule his first year as a Laker a success.
