Photo: Instagram.com/@TJKidd5
LeBron James' son, LeBron "Bronny" James Jr., made headlines last week when a toddler threw a piece of candy at him during a high school basketball tournament in Massachusetts.
Bronny is a 15-year-old basketball player who attends Sierra Canyon, a private school in Los Angeles. There are reports that the toddler who threw the candy at Bronny was ejected from the gym.
Nearly 20 years ago, another toddler was the target of mean-spirited basketball fans who disliked his NBA All-star father.
Photo by Mychal Watts/WireImage
Before social media came into existence, adults relentlessly mocked Trey Jason Kidd, aka TJ, in chat rooms and on message boards.
TJ is the son of L.A. Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd, 46, and his first wife, Joumana Kidd.
Adults made cruel comments about TJ while hiding behind the anonymity of the Internet. If anyone understands what Bronny James is going through now, it's TJ Kidd.
TJ, a 21-year-old college student, is a mature, well-adjusted young man who seems unaffected by the bullying that occurred when he was much younger than Bronny is now.
Heavy.com writer Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson caught up with TJ before the Lakers took on the Nets at the Barclays Center on Jan. 23.
Robinson asked TJ to share his experience growing up as the son of an NBA star.
Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson: What's your opinion on the kid throwing that object at Bronny?
TJ Kidd: Nobody should be throwing anything at anyone no matter the level of the game that's being played. I get that it was a little kid who threw something. I saw the video. I don't know the whole story and I don't know why the kid did it. But there's no place for it.
What's it like being an NBA player's son? Is there pressure?
TJ Kidd: Honestly it's very cool. You are afforded many great opportunities and you meet really amazing people. But there are misconceptions and downsides that come with it. There are haters. People that harass you on social media. There are people who have no clue with what pressure and expectations you have to deal with. But it's what builds your character. Dealing with adversity, pressure, sometimes anxiety. It helps make you better. At the end of the day, it's all noise. You learn how to deal with it at a young age and you learn how to be the best person you can be every single day. You don't always have that parent around, but you know they want the best for you. It's a whole lot of learning and teaching yourself things as you grow up. But you understand the circumstances of their work. You are beyond proud of your parent. You'll love and stick up for that parent until the end of the line because that's your parent and they represent you and your whole family. I consider myself extremely blessed to have my dad be my dad and my mom to be my mom. But, at the end of the day, it's about what you want to do. It's great to celebrate what that parent has accomplished. But, at the end of the day, you have to do you. It's not going to be easy, but the payout of your body of work to whatever it is you do, will be worthwhile.
