The primary spherical of the NBA draft passed off final night time. Regardless of it being a less-than-stellar draft class, the media targeted heightened consideration on LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, and the place he could find yourself.
It got here as no shock that Bronny was not chosen within the first spherical. This was the primary yr the NBA and their accomplice ESPN break up the draft into two days to make sure their protection of Bronny would fulfill followers and executives on the community.
One of many first segments of the day on the conglomerate’s morning present, First Take, mentioned one of the best match for Bronny James. Stephen A. Smith had two groups he thought can be nice for Bronny’s improvement. He was joined by NBAPA President C.J. McCollum, who believes that Bronny will develop within the G League and ultimately find yourself as a Laker.
“I fully agree with you that Bronny might be within the G League creating,” Smith advised McCollum. “I don’t agree with you that he’s going to be inside that Lakers locker room. And the explanation why is due to the mix of their gamers within the locker room, mixed with the media that comes with being in Tinseltown, when you’re speaking in regards to the Los Angeles Lakers. Whenever you discuss a distraction, there’s no means round it… I’m certain LeBron is supplied to deal with issues. I’m certain Bronny, who has proven himself to be a spectacular younger child when it comes to simply his psychological make-up, his maturity, his core decency… all of these issues are true however generally it’s a must to sit again and marvel what that life can be like for all events concerned if he certainly is in that locker room along with his dad.”
Smith’s sentiments are appropriate. First-year head coach JJ Redick and teammates wouldn’t profit from the media circus that will descend on Los Angeles if the duo have been to play collectively. Nevertheless, Smith had two groups he believed can be nice for the event of James.
“Once I take into consideration Bronny strictly from a basketball standpoint, I’d inform you Denver and Philadelphia are groups that come to my thoughts,” Smith mentioned on First Take. “When your primary possibility on offense is an enormous and your focus is on them, and clearly they’re the focus of the offense, you as a guard—significantly somebody that comes off the bench identified for his or her defensive prowess in comparison with your offensive capacity—have the chance to study on the court docket.”
These are legitimate factors for 2 organizations striving for fulfillment yearly and have proven within the final 5 years that they will develop guards. It’ll be fascinating as we progress via the second spherical on ESPN immediately.
