NBA legend Charles Barkley has recently voiced his strong criticisms toward the Los Angeles Lakers for their approach to Bronny James, LeBron James' son. While the younger James made headlines this season as he joined his father on the Lakers’ roster, his playing time has been limited and has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.
After being drafted by the Lakers, Bronny's debut alongside LeBron marked the first time any father-son duo has ever played together on the court in NBA history. This moment was celebrated widely, but the excitement has since fizzled out due to Bronny's lack of playtime and inconsistent assignment to the G League, where he’s been predominantly performing with the South Bay Lakers.
Barkley wasn’t shy about expressing his feelings about the Lakers' management of Bronny's early career. He critiqued the organization on the Bettor Angle podcast, calling their handling of the situation "awful" and "stupid." He argued, "The kid is not ready to play in the NBA. He should be in the G League so he can play basketball," adding, "He’s not going to get anybetter sitting on the bench."
Barkley highlighted the discrepancies of Bronny playing only home games for the G League team, emphasizing the challenges this creates for both the player and the coaching staff. He noted, "It’s not fair to him. It’s not fair to the team. Can you image the coach of the team? You come off a road trip and have a player you haven’t seen in weeks or two weeks, and then you probably feel like you gotta play him."
This unusual arrangement has led many to question whether the Lakers are genuinely invested in Bronny's development or merely leveraging the spotlight created by his father’s legacy. Barkley followed up with, "I don’t think they are doing Bronny any favors. They have just handled this thing very bad. It’s not just about Bronny; it's also about how it reflects on LeBron. I really like everything LeBron has done, but it’s still not fair to him either. It’s just a bad look.”
After several appearances at the end of some games, Bronny was assigned to the G League as he navigates the issue of balancing NBA-level play with the need for development. The rookie has faced public scrutiny and even comparisons to other young players who have found more consistent paths to NBA success.
Adding to this narrative, Bronny is slated to draw attention beyond the hardwood, as his and LeBron's game-worn jerseys following their historic debut have hit the auction block. Starting bids for these jerseys have already begun at $70,000, showing the commercial appeal both players command.
Barkley's criticisms reflect broader concerns about how the Lakers are handling Bronny's transition to professional basketball. The NBA icon's commentary not only challenges the Lakers' current strategy but also underlines the importance of proper development for young talents who are stepping onto the grand stage of the NBA.
The Lakers, currently sitting competitively within the Western Conference, must find the right balance supporting Bronny's growth without overshadowing his individual development with the weight of expectations created by being LeBron's son. Just how the organization will navigate these waters remains to be seen, but as Barkley has underscored, many are keeping a close eye on their actions.
