LeBron James Is Fueling Son Bronny’s “Pressure” With Heavy Burden, Claims 46YO NBA Veteran

Since Bronny James got cleared for the NBA draft, some veterans have been less than enthused. Maybe even a little concerned for him. After all, there’s an unfair expectation for Bronny to live up to a father who’s in the GOAT conversation. Kenyon Martin is one of the people who has mixed feelings about Bronny entering the draft. The entire crew at Gil’s Arena in fact felt it was too early for Bronny. There’s an entire faction within the NBA community desperate to see LeBron James and his son play in the league at the same time that would disagree with them. The pressure is mostly from there but Martin contends some of it is too close to home too.

“When your dad says it, you probably been talking about it at home as well,” Kenyon said referencing LeBron making his wishes to play with his sons in the NBA public in recent months. That in itself, Martin says, is “definitely pressure… even more pressure.”

He very poignantly adds, “The pressure is already there because who you are, and then your dad says that I think it adds to that that pressure of ‘shoot, I have to do this now. Because if I wait another year two years like you never know.'” Martin does say that it’s between their family and he wishes nothing but the best for Bronny, but also feels terrible for him contending with this scrutiny from all sides at such a young age.

It does look like a family affair on the outside. Bron has made no secret about wanting to be an NBA father-son duo. One of the instances was a commercial starring the dad of three, narrated by his wife Savannah implying that LeBron would play with both Bronny and Bryce in the league. The window for that is running out and Martin is right that the pressure is on Bronny now; though both Savannah and LeBron have expressed that their son’s happiness is what matters. “In whatever they decide to do, I’m here supporting and rooting for them,” Savannah iterated while King James asked online critics to “just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball.”

Kenyon Martin is an NBA dad himself

The NBA has had its father-son duos. Both Kenyon and his son, KJ Martin have played against Bron. So he knows how the James family feels right now.

Bronny, who overcame a cardiac episode in 2023, was medically cleared to play in the league. At Gil’s Arena, they’re happy he’s healthy but also wary about his development. Kenyon and Gilbert Arenas correctly assert that the NBA is simply not easy. And second-generation players come into the league with a lot of expectations thrust on them.

Even if he gets picked, Martin and Arenas don’t see the likelihood of Bronny getting enough minutes on the court for player development at his level. So it wouldn’t be immediate for him and LeBron to team up. Are the veterans’ concerns for Bronny spot on?