Bronny James is finally speaking out, and the Los Angeles Lakers rookie isn’t holding back about the relentless criticism he’s faced in his first NBA season. As the son of LeBron James—arguably the greatest player ever—Bronny has inherited a legion of haters, and the scrutiny has been unlike anything most rookies ever deal with. In a candid chat with The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, the 20-year-old opened up about how the noise gets to him, even as he tries to channel it into motivation.
“I always try to just let it go through one ear and out the other, put my head down, and come to work and be positive every day,” Bronny told Vardon. “But sometimes it just, it fuels me a little bit. I see everything that people are saying, and people think, like, I’m a f–king robot, like I don’t have any feelings or emotions.” It’s a raw admission from a kid who’s been under a microscope since day one. Despite being a second-round pick (No. 55 overall), Bronny gets more coverage for his garbage-time minutes than most of the players drafted ahead of him—fair or not, that’s the price of being a James.
The criticism isn’t just about his play—it’s personal. Many claim the only reason he’s on the Lakers is because of LeBron, who’s still dominating in his 22nd season. Social media’s been brutal, with fans mocking everything from Bronny’s stats to his limited role. A recent viral moment had the internet buzzing when LeBron playfully took Bronny’s seat on the bench during a timeout, forcing the rookie to sit on the floor—prompting X posts like “Bro Needs To Know His Place.” Another clip showed Bronny silencing a heckler with a three-word clapback, earning him the nickname “Prince James” online. Through it all, Bronny’s trying to stay focused. “I just take that and use it as fuel,” he said, detailing his routine of early gym sessions, extra film work, and learning from the bench.
Bronny’s role with the Lakers has been limited—he’s played just 98 minutes across 21 games, averaging 1.6 points on a rough 26.3% shooting. Most of his time comes in blowouts, like Wednesday’s 120-108 win over the Denver Nuggets, where he logged four minutes in the fourth quarter. He’s also been shuttling between the NBA and G League, where he’s thriving with the South Bay Lakers—averaging 20.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists on 36.1% three-point shooting in nine starts. The contrast is stark, and it’s clear the Lakers, under coach JJ Redick, want him to develop in the G League while soaking up lessons from the NBA sidelines.
For Bronny, the haters are just part of the journey. He’s determined to prove he belongs, using the criticism to drive his work ethic. “That’s what Rob wants me to do as a young guy,” he said, referring to Lakers GM Rob Pelinka’s plan for him to grow through G League reps and bench time. With LeBron still leading the Lakers’ charge, Bronny’s got a front-row seat to greatness—and a chip on his shoulder to match. The road’s tough, but he’s showing he’s more than just a famous last name. Keep an eye on this kid—he’s got a fire that might just surprise us all.
