Charles Barkley, the basketball legend and TNT Sports analyst, is never one to hold back on his opinions. Recently, he took aim at how the Los Angeles Lakers have handled Bronny James, the rookie guard who made his debut alongside his dad, LeBron James, on opening night. While it seemed like a huge family moment, Barkley thinks it was more of a PR stunt than a sign that Bronny was ready for the NBA.
Before the season started, Barkley got a tip about the Lakers’ plans after talking with baseball great Ken Griffey Jr., who mentioned that he and his dad would be at the opener. Barkley saw this as a clear sign that Nike—big on promoting the James family—had set up the whole thing. “There’s no way in the world Nike is sending Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. out there, and Bronny is not getting on the court with his dad,” Barkley said.
While Barkley acknowledged the emotional moment of Bronny’s debut, he thinks the Lakers pushed him into the NBA too fast. “The kid is not ready for the NBA,” he said. “He should be in the G League so he can play basketball. He’s not gonna get better sitting on the bench.” Bronny, who only played 16 minutes in the opener, was later sent to the Lakers’ G League team, but only for home games, something Barkley criticized as unfair to both Bronny and the team.
Barkley Criticized The Lakers’ Handling Of Bronny
Barkley went on to say that the Lakers’ decision to have Bronny only play in home games creates a lot of inconsistency, which could hurt both the player and the team. “It’s not fair to him. It’s not fair to the team. Can you imagine a coach of that team? You come off a road trip, and there’s a player you haven’t seen in a week or two,” he explained. Barkley pointed out how this would cause issues for coaches and throw off the team’s overall strategy.
Barkley’s not the only one concerned. ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, who has been following the James family closely, also thinks this plan could hurt Bronny’s development, calling it “detrimental.” Despite the Lakers having a 10-6 record so far, Bronny hasn’t yet become a key player, and his inconsistent playing time—thanks to a heel injury—adds more uncertainty about what’s next for him.
Charles Barkley believes the Lakers could’ve handled the situation better and says the focus should be on long-term growth, not just a PR move. “I really like everything LeBron has done,” Barkley said. “But it’s a bad look for him too, in my opinion.” Only time will reveal how the Lakers’ approach impacts Bronny’s growth as a player on this unique journey.
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