The US media have already given their verdict on Bronny James after his NBA debut.
LeBron’s son made history on Tuesday night as he took to the court alongside his famous father.
The elder James has made no secret of his desire to share the court with his son before calling time on his NBA career.
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LeBron’s dream came true in the Los Angeles Lakers’ opening game of the 2024/25 season against the Minnesota Timberwolves, when he and Bronny came off the bench together in the second quarter.
It was Bronny’s regular season NBA debut after being drafted in the second round by the Lakers earlier this year.
But CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter is not convinced that Bronny is ready for prime time.
He wrote: “The crowd noticed slowly, the noise building incrementally. First as a rustle. Then cheering. Finally there came a rush of excitement that LeBron and Bronny James were going to make history and become the first father-son pairing to play together in a regular-season NBA game.
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“And then the energy in the arena ... sagged.
“On the floor, the game back on, Timberwolves forward Julius Randle went right at Bronny -- welcome to the league, kid -- and hit a jumper over the short, slighter James.
“A little bit later, LeBron drove, attracted two defenders, and passed to his son, who was open for a three -- and missed it. He would finish 0 for 2, with a single rebound a box score plus-minus of -5, and the good fortune none it mattered the Lakers' 110-103 season-opening win over the Wolves on Tuesday night.”
It was only the first game for 20-year-old Bronny, and as a mid second round pick he will expect to spend some time in the G League to hone his craft.
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There have been many suggestions that if were not for his famous name, Bronny would not have seen any action for the Lakers so early in his career.
But now he has made history, Reiter is hoping he focuses on carving out his own career in the NBA without worrying about the need to emulate LeBron – who is one of the greatest to ever play the sport.
Reiter added: “It would be wonderful if this works. If Bronny James makes for himself a career in the league. On the level, say, of a Gary Patyon II -- another player who carries a famous name, and yet who has made his own in the NBA, too.
“I hope it happens. We all should. There's no reason to root for failure. And last May, while at the NBA Draft Combine, I saw what I hoped were green shoots in the early stages of Bronny James' would-be career.
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“But it's hard to ignore the pestering worries that, at best, Bronny is here in the league too soon, shoved to the front of the line by the forces of his father rather than his own talent, and that Tuesday's debut with dad -- and the laudatory coverage sure to follow -- will make things harder.”
Topics: NBA, Lebron James
Alex Chivers