Fans aren’t cutting Bronny James any slack. On social media, they debate his level of play and the opportunity he receives as a starter despite the 119-95 win over the Bucks. One of the main criticisms is his weakness from beyond the arc. Interestingly, his father, LeBron James, was also criticized for this early in his career.
Bronny received his second start. He took the court with a depleted Lakers roster, missing Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart. Before tip-off, nerves and pressure were already weighing on him.
His previous experience as a starter came against Portland last season during a 109-81 loss. Los Angeles had already secured third place, so there was no real risk. He scored 4 points on 2-for-10 shooting, along with 6 assists, 4 steals, 3 rebounds, and 3 turnovers.
His performance drew criticism, especially because fans noticed fear and insecurity when he attempted long-range shots. Some say he doesn’t even look at the rim.
How did Bronny James do against the Bucks?
He played just 10 minutes. He went 0-for-2 from the field, with one rebound, one assist, and one steal. He didn’t score a single point, missed an early three, and had another shot bounce off the rim. This happened while the Lakers held a 65-34 halftime lead.
He checked back in late in the fourth quarter to close the game, but nothing happened. Before the matchup against the Bucks, he was averaging 2.3 points and 1.9 assists in 12.1 minutes, shooting 29.2% overall and 25% from long range.
He has logged 6.7 minutes per game in his rookie season, indicating the team wants to bring him along slowly in his NBA development.
Bronny James’ criticism on social media
Comparisons to his father weren’t far behind. Fans point out that LeBron James also struggled with three-pointers.
Just like his father, he can never shoot from a long distance.
Throughout his career, LeBron has averaged 34.9% from three, peaking at 40.6% in the 2012-13 season with the Miami Heat and posting 41% in the 2023-24 season. But he has also had rough stretches: 30.9% during his 2016 championship run and just 29% in his rookie year.
LeBron’s longest recorded shot in the NBA was an 83-footer in 2007. So when Bronny struggles from deep, it’s no surprise; it runs in the family.
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