Lakers fans are upset that LeBron James‘ son Bronny James is only required to play home games for the South Bay Lakers G League team.
Bronny made history last month when he and his dad became the first father-son duo to play together in a NBA game.
Last month, the Lakers said Bronny would be sent down to the G-league to develop on Nov. 9.
Bronny scored 6 points in his first G League game for South Bay Lakers on Saturday. On Sunday, Nov. 10, Bronny played garbage minutes in the Lakers win against the Toronto Raptors.
Fans reacted when the Lakers announced Bronny James will not be traveling with the G League team for road games.
“He’s only going to play in the South Bay Lakers’ home games,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on his podcast. “He’s only going to kind of be a part-time G League player, and he’s not getting on United Airlines to fly to these road games.”
Windhorst griped that Bronny is getting “special treatment” and it doesn’t benefit the Lakers or the G-league team.
“He’s getting somewhat special treatment and nepotism,” said Windhorst. “Now, I think it’s actually detrimental to him. I don’t like that. I don’t know whose idea it was, but obviously, the Lakers are fine with it — they’re doing it. On this particular instance, I think that’s gone too far, and I don’t think it benefits Bronny. I don’t think it benefits the South Bay Lakers, and I don’t think it benefits LeBron at this point.”
Fans expressed their opinions about the Lakers giving Bronny preferential treatment over other G League players.
One fan on a manosphere board wrote: “This isn’t a good look on Bron. Basically he forced the Lakers to draft his son and they get that one cool moment and then everyone agrees he isn’t NBA worthy. So what was the point of all this? So Bron could have the moment he wanted? What about Bronny? Just a bad look.”
Another fan wrote: “This is a bad look. They’re doing him no favors. He’ll never get the respect as a legit player who’s putting in work.”
A third fan wrote: “Ok, I was fine with everything they were doing with him until now. What’s the point of him not traveling with the g league team? He has to be the highest paid g league player this season with a 4 year fully guaranteed contract. What do you really gain from this?”
This is really dumb by the Lakers, they are hurting Bronny more than helping him. I don't even get the reasoning by it. Just flat out dumb. https://t.co/wPfjbA1qa4
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) November 13, 2024
the Lakers are officially the laughing stock of the NBA. wow they should have never drafted someone that don't even have the talent to play in the G-league. Plus he didn't even prove himself in college.
— Brad Schrock (@schroc42068) November 13, 2024
Exactly! How can he develop on the bench?
— B (@ItsJustB_01) November 13, 2024