The weight of being LeBron James’ son and a part of the Los Angeles Lakers is taking a toll on Bronny James. The 19-year-old had a drafting process characterized by intrinsic criticism from experts. The pressure and animosity have affected his production in the Summer League. Notably, Bronny James has yet to record a single three-pointer, the same shot type he ranked second in during the draft combine. Furthermore, his output is almost the same as his USC numbers.

This has led pundits to double down on their claims and berate the teenager for his recent performances. However, is it fair to the youngster, who was the 55th pick in a moderately talented draft? If you ask Rachel Nichols, she believes Bronny James is being burdened with surreal expectations due to his name and jersey.

“I think people are looking at him as if he’s a top 10 pick. He’s not a top-10 pick. He’s a number 55 pick. The expectations for a number 55 pick should be that you are largely heading to the G-League and may get some games up in the NBA. Last year’s number 55 pick played 4 total minutes in the NBA… And those came in one game. So to evaluate Bronny next to top 10 picks versus what other guys at number 55 has done have done is totally unfair,” Nichols said on Undisputed.

In defending Bronny James, she also referenced the number 2 pick Alex Sarr’s awful Summer League game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Sarr scored 0 points failing to hit any of his 15 attempts from the field. “Stats do not matter in the Summer League. We have seen guys have bad Summer Leagues and go on to have good NBA careers,” Nichols said in conclusion to her argument.

The NBA realm knew Bronny James wasn’t going to be evaluated for his draft position. He was bound to be compared to the imperious status of his father, LeBron James. As a rookie, Bronny is still a raw talent with immense potential. That is also recognized by JJ Redick who expressed having developmental plans for the USC alumnus.

So yes, the criticism and parameters set on Bronny James do seem unfair. No 55th pick ever had such tremendous expectations. And James is being critiqued like a lottery pick. Ideally, it is understood that he will take time to evolve given his medical history and short college career. Until then, Bronny should be seen from the lens of a second-round prospect and not the successor to LeBron James as he is currently.

Lakers plan on sending Bronny James to the G-League

It’s a well-documented fact that the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Bronny James with a long-term vision in mind. That was amongst the primary reasons he was awarded a four-year guaranteed contract by the Purple and Gold. Additionally, it has also been previously reported that the organization will ship Bronny to their G-League affiliate once he shares the NBA floor with his father and makes history.

It’s an idea even Bronny James himself is open to largely because of him being “in a slump”.

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“I’m just looking forward to any basketball I play, no matter what level I’m playing at,” he told ESPN when asked about the possibility of playing in the G-League. It sounds like a demotion. But many NBA stars have resurrected after successful G-League stints. One of the prominent examples is Khris Middleton, who became the first G-League alumnus to become an All-Star in 2019.

It’s vital to give Bronny James ample time to understand the NBA and grow into his innate skills.