{"id":130991,"date":"2025-03-26T21:52:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T01:52:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=130991"},"modified":"2025-03-26T21:52:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T01:52:53","slug":"lakers-lebron-james-gushes-bronny-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/03\/26\/lakers-lebron-james-gushes-bronny-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers\u2019 LeBron James Gushes Over Son\u2019s Rise"},"content":{"rendered":"

21 years after the Cleveland Cavaliers took St. Vincent-St. Mary phenom LeBron James<\/a> with the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected USC freshman Bronny James<\/a> with the 55th overall pick.<\/p>\n

The way that LeBron James Jr.<\/em> has been discussed, you might have thought he was the No. 1 pick too.<\/p>\n

Lakers\u2019 LeBron James Gushes Over Son\u2019s Rise<\/h2>\n

Considering his father\u2019s larger than life shadow, Bronny was always going to be placed under a microscope. Partially due to his dad\u2019s detractors, there were always going to be doubters and hecklers. However, because of his calamitous freshman season, there was actually outrage when he started being discussed as a potential draft pick.<\/p>\n

The vitriol that many athletes have received is unwarranted. This atmosphere had a particularly acrid taste to it though. Those that simply believed he should return to school<\/a> to work on his game couldn\u2019t be faulted. Yet there was an ever-growing mob of angry protesters who thought it ludicrous that he was being ludicrous that he would be thought of as a draft prospect.<\/p>\n

Many of them have probably put their pitchforks down by now.<\/p>\n

In the past week, he\u2019s recorded a career-high 17 points<\/a> in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks and followed it up with a career-high 39 points<\/a> while on a G League assignment. Asked about his development, the elder James tells the Pat McAfee Show<\/em> that he\u2019s \u201csuper proud\u201d of his son\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFor me as a dad I\u2019m just super proud of Bronny as a man..<\/p>\n

As a mentor and as a teammate of his I\u2019m super proud of his development as a player\u201d @KingJames<\/a> #PMSLive<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/LeuG0HFuGs<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/bTEYJqlOmj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cListen, for me as a dad, it doesn\u2019t matter if he never scores ever. As a dad, I\u2019m just super proud of him period as a young man,\u201d he admits.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me as a mentor and as a teammate of his, and that wants to see him thrive because I\u2019ve seen the work he\u2019s put into the game, I\u2019m super proud of his development to where he is now.<\/p>\n

His development has skyrocketed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like Father, Like Son<\/h3>\n

In a basketball journey that began in Ohio, much like his father, the younger James rose up the ranks to become a four-star recruit, McDonald\u2019s All-American, and top-20 high school prospect. His college announcement was highly anticipated, with schools like Kentucky among those to extend an offer to him.<\/p>\n

By then though, he had been in California for several years thanks to his dad\u2019s decision to leave the Cavaliers for the Lakers. Consequently, he chose to stay home. Technically, home could apply to Ohio too of course, and Ohio State was among the favorites to land him<\/a>. Nonetheless, he chose a Trojans program that allowed him to be near his family.<\/p>\n

What happened next was completely out of his hands. During an offseason training session, he collapsed due to cardiac arrest<\/a>. He was subsequently hospitalized, his concerned family searching for answers.<\/p>\n

According to his dad, one of the first questions Bronny asked after his heart surgery was when he could play again.<\/p>\n

\n

LeBron on Bronny\u2019s commitment to basketball after his health scare in the summer of 2023: \u201cHe asked the doctors, \u2018When can I pay again?\u2019 Not, \u2018How long is it going to take for my heart to heal?\u2019 Or not, \u2018How long was I in surgery?\u2019 None of those. He asked, \u2018When can I play?\u2019\u201d pic.twitter.com\/Z5Na4PGtoF<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 22, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n