Bronny James – a prince or a fool?

Two years ago, on a rainy night deep in the San Fernando Valley, I went to watch Bronny James play. This year’s Sierra Canyon team was significantly worse than previous years. Bronny was the only All-American on the team and the only upperclassman with real NBA potential. In years past he’s been able to hide behind his NBA-caliber teammates, but not this year – this was his team. That night in the game, Bronny threw down a powerful between-the-legs dunk – his most famous highlight to date. While throwing an Eastbay in game is no guarantee of basketball excellence, I would argue that it shows brilliant flashes of raw talent. A talent that, given Bronny’s height of 1.90 m frame, was truly remarkable.

Whenever someone talks to me about Bronny’s lack of talent or says his position in the NBA is entirely due to nepotism, I think back to that moment. I left the gym that night confident in his basketball potential.

During Bronny’s first month at the University of Southern California, he suffered a life-threatening cardiac arrestwhich really puts his dream of playing alongside his father in jeopardy. This moment demonstrates a significant, intangible quality – Bronny’s resilience and actual determination to succeed and fulfill the expectations of his birthright. Getting back to playing basketball, let alone working toward training for an NBA season after nearly dying in practice, requires something deeper than simply having LeBron James as a father.

But it’s also true that any other All-American at his position would have stayed in college for at least another year or two, especially after missing most of his freshman season for health reasons and playing fewer minutes as a result. Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19 minutes per game – Statistics show that his development was profoundly altered by the setback. As such, these doubts about his developmental trajectory are often expressed in good faith, with many people arguing that he is simply not prepared for the jump to the NBA level and that his abilities as a basketball player could ultimately be better if he spent a few years at it He developed his game at USC.

While his original goal was to simply play with the father he’s worked for his entire life, Bronny now finds himself at the foot of a much harder mountain to climb: proving he belongs in the NBA. I believe he can achieve this, but it will require a tremendous amount of work to be successful. Bronny could become a good backup point guard, similar to a Davion Mitchell – a quick defender with good length and athleticism and a solid enough three-point shooter. If he can increase his level significantly, he has the potential to be valuable as a role player.

While some may believe that Bronny can unlock that next level in his game, there are reasonable doubts about his actual talent. Bronny just doesn’t look like an NBA player as he averages 0.7 points, one rebound, one block and 0.3 assists in 11.9 minutes per game during the preseason. He plays coy, disinterestedly weaving in to help defenders, running dejectedly into the corner and casting sidelong glances at the substitutes whose minutes he steals. Tragically, he has internalized imposter syndrome brought on by his unique circumstances.

Still, I always think back to that night in Chatsworth. I remember what I saw and saw with my own eyes. It was real basketball talent. Bronny’s success will inevitably come down to nepotism, and his namesake cannot give him the determination to prove his doubters wrong, a tendency his father embodies better than perhaps any other athlete. If Bronny is in any way wired like LeBron, he can succeed, and if he does, no one will ever criticize the Lakers’ decision. As long as Bronny proves he has the integrity to live up to his role as a Lakers player, it doesn’t matter how he got to that position.

There’s also a real possibility that Bronny isn’t willing to put in the work necessary to maximize his potential, and the decision to draft him will look worse every year, permanently portraying him as a Nepo baby that’s his Never really deserved space. Bronny may never become an independent player. He may remain unplayable throughout his career and only remain in the squad for his father’s teams.

On TuesdayLeBron James Jr. will begin his journey to prove that he is his father’s son. Bronny will drape himself in the purple and gold of the prestigious Lakers and perhaps consider himself a spiritual heir to his father’s legacy.

It’s up to him to prove he’s nothing more than a fool.