Like any good father would do, LeBron James had his son’s back Monday.
Bronny James went viral on social media after ESPN removed him from its mock 2024 NBA Draft, leading to a flood of predictable criticism aimed at Bronny (“over-rated,” “not an NBA prospect,” etc.).
LeBron James quickly checked in with a couple of posts on social media in defense of his son.
“Can yall please just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball,” James wrote on X/Twitter. “The work and results will ultimately do the talking no matter what he decides to do. If y’all don’t know he doesn’t care what a mock draft says, he just WORKS! Earned Not Given!”
James later deleted the posts.
In the second post, James wrote, “And to all the other kids out there striving to be great just keep your head down, blinders on and keep grinding. These Mock Drafts doesn’t matter one bit! I promise you! Only the WORK MATTERS!! Let’s talk REAL BASKETBALL PEOPLE!”
There had been speculation Bronny James would play one year at USC then head to the NBA, but he has struggled as a freshman, averaging 5.5 points per game and shooting just 37.1% from the field. He suffered a major setback in July 2023 when he went into cardiac arrest during a practice.
And when healthy, he’s had to deal with situations such as this:
While this season hasn’t gone as many expected, the 6-foot-4 guard has earned praise for his athleticism, defense, instincts and knowledge of the game.
Bear in mind he’s still only 19, with plenty of talent and opportunity to develop as a player. As LeBron James noted, “The work and results will ultimately do the talking no matter what he decides to do.”
The NBA world responded to LeBron’s defense of his son.
LeBron James I hope your son doesn’t listen to ESPN Draft experts! Do you want Bronny Jr. to be the next Allen Iverson or to be his version of a puzzle piece on multiple championship teams! Look at the role of the SG on NCs team or send your son to a team with that same system!
— Coach Spanky (@Coachhammertime) February 27, 2024
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.