LeBron James Says Bronny Is Blocking Out The Haters

Bronny James made his debut in a Lakers uniform over the weekend, scoring four points in his first NBA Summer League game. The 55th overall pick went 2-9 from the field, 0-3 from deep, and was a -15 in the +/- category.

For the son of LeBron James, it wasn't exactly the type of performance that silences critics. But that's okay because according to his father, Bronny doesn't give a (bleep) about the narratives surrounding him.

In an interview conducted shortly after Bronny's debut, James Sr. told ESPN, "When I came in (as a rookie), I wanted people to like me, and some of the things that people were saying about me kind of bothered me early on in my career. ... [Bronny] doesn't give a (expletive).

"He does not care about nobody. He doesn't even listen to that stuff. He's like the coolest. He's like the complete opposite of his dad."

I commend Bronny for being able to block out the noise because there has been plenty of it over the last few weeks. That noise also isn't going to die down anytime soon, but I suppose that's the price you pay for being the son of an NBA legend.

The Lakers Summer League squad took the floor again on Sunday, but Bronny didn't play as a precaution with swelling in his knee. L.A. lost that game to Golden State, dropping to 0-2 in the California Classic.

The next time we'll see the younger James take the floor will likely be in the Las Vegas Summer League that tips off on July 12.

Betting on Bronny

DraftKings has a market solely dedicated to betting on Bronny James specials. Among the choices are:

• Bronny James 15+ Points in any 2024-25 Regular Season Game (-110)
• Bronny James 4+ Threes Made in any 2024-25 Regular Season Game (+550)
• Bronny James 8+ Assists in any 2024-25 Regular Season Game (+1600)
• Bronny James to Record a Double Double in any 2024-25 Regular Season Game (+3500)

There are plenty of other options, but I recommend staying away from them altogether. I know we only have a one-game sample size to go off of right now, but Bronny didn't show me anything in his 22 minutes on the floor that makes me think he's capable of hitting any of these marks, especially during the regular season against real NBA talent.

Until DraftKings gives us the option to bet on Bronny's unders, you won't catch me wagering on the young King James.