Bronny James would be a DISTRACTION on the Lakers! – Stephen A. Smith | First Take
[Applause] welcome back to First Take bronnie James is still waiting to hear his name called in the 2024 NBA draft after the first round concluded last night in our NBA draft experts latest mock they had bronnie going in the second round to the Lakers with the 55th overall draft pick of course the second round tips off tonight Stephen A I’m going to start with you we got Stephen A and CJ McCullum here uh who do you think should draft bronnie DJ go ahead I think the Lakers should draft him I think if you look at the development process of him being able to play alongside LeBron James arguably the greatest player of all time the preparation that goes into that the tutelage of having JJ reick as a head coach who understands the importance of shooting development the understanding of continuing to be patient with players because it doesn’t always start off the way you expect it to I think all of those things make sense I think that the Lakers are in a position right now where they need to be patient with him they need to understand that it takes time to grow and develop give a few years to continue to work alongside some of those great players that they have within their organization but also some of the coaching staff that they’re going to bring in which will be some ex players they’ve mentioned Rondo they’ve mentioned some of those types of players as coming on their staff so I think the Lakers make the most sense for him because they can be patient with him they can allow him to grow and they are in win now mode and I don’t think that you’re going to get a second round pick that’s going to help you win now well let me say this to you I completely agree with with you if bronne is going to be in the G League developing I do not agree with you if he’s going to be inside that Lake locker and the reason why is because of the combination of other players who are going to be in the locker room combined with the media that comes with being in tinel town when you’re a member of the Los Angeles Lakers you talk about a distraction there’s no way around that um I’m sure that LeBron James is equipped to handle things I’m sure that bronnie who’s shown himself to be a spectacular young kid in terms of his just mental makeup his maturity his core decency he’s just a wonderful wonderful kid and impossible to root against based on what you’ve seen from him all of those things are true but you also have to sit back and wonder to some degree what that life would be like for all parties involved if in indeed he’s in that locker room with his dad who happens to be one of the greatest players in the history of basketball it’s just not a distraction uh that I think a new coach uh who’s a rookie head coach and JJ reick and his staff and others uh should have to deal with having said all of that when I think about bronnie strictly from a basketball standpoint I would tell you Denver and and and Philadelphia are teams that come to my mind CJ J simply because I think that when your offense the number one option on your offense is your bigs and you’re focusing on them and obviously they are the focal point of your offense you as a guard particularly somebody that’s coming off the bench that’s known more so for your defensive Powers than any of your offensive abilities I think you have an opportunity to learn more and even when you get on the court there’s so little that’s required of you compared to somebody that’s looking for offensive produ uction from their guard play and so I look at it from that standpoint and I say to myself those are teams that come to my mind when I think about developing uh uh bronnie James and bringing him along I would agree with you with the Lakers again if it’s the G league but him being in that locker room for non basketball related matters just being in that locker room with that magnifying glass and and and the attention that’s going to bring you can’t tell me that wouldn’t be a major distraction and it wouldn’t forment resentment I think that what you have to pay attention to no I agree I think it would be a distraction at times but they are used to distractions living in tensel town in general that’s what comes to the territory braon just did a podcast with JJ reic during the season so I think from a from a distraction standpoint you can take all of that out bronnie would be drafted and would be on the roster and he would be with the team and then at times I’m guessing play in the G League which I think is which is what’s probably going to happen regardless of circum cumstances and regardless of where he’s drafted at I think that he would be going back and forth because when you’re not in the rotation regardless of if you’re a first round pick second round pick or undrafted the team wants you to get reps they want you to get five on five exposure they want you to get playing time they want you to go against guys different cities get used to the travel and then come back and reimmerse yourself as an NBA player so I would imagine that he would go back and forth because we’ve seen that happen historically you know my 11 years in the NBA we’ve seen first round picks go down for a week at a time just to get some experience playing games and come back and be with the uh CJ do you let me say this to you I don’t know of any situation that listen I don’t know if anything similar to what would exist if Brony James was in the same locker room as LeBron James in Los Angeles next season I don’t know of anything like that now there are situations that one could easily find comparable in a in a in a different manner like when LeBron departed from Cleveland to go to Miami uh particularly his his return to Cleveland remember how uncomfortable and scary that was for folks prior to the game when you had the extra security when you saw I mean people they were G to come at LeBron and LeBron really really showed what he was made of because he responded he showed up and responded to the vitri all that was being thrown in his Direction in pristine fashion particularly when they overcame like a 27o deficit if I remember correctly you looking at things like that and I’m saying to myself it’s one thing for him to have to deal with that but we’re talking about his son having to deal with it too and I don’t think that could be ignored that’s just me [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]
On First Take, Stephen A. Smith and CJ McCollum discuss the possibility of Bronny James being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers.
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47 Comments
L.A. isn’t the place for Bronny, let him go on his own for a year ,, learn the game his way then go to the Lakers, Lebron got at least 2-3 years left in him n JJ will have more experience by then as well, then pick up Bronny! 🤷♂️
Bronny is not nba material. He should go to G-leauge
A topic that's a waste of time to talk about
LeBron deserves to get what he wants, he's the best player of all time. If he wants to play with his son, then draft him.
This show is awful!
He isn't that good. Poor judgement and knowledge of the game. Just another privileged, entitled jock.
He's not an NBA caliber player…there are hundreds and hundreds of players in college who are significantly better, and he is going to be humiliated. It's tough, because he's grown up his whole life being told he's gonna play in the NBA, but he's not ready and EVERYONE knows that. It'd be different if he were a legit late round pick and he got drafted early because of his dad, but he's not. He would not even be looked at if it weren't for Lebron.
Any team could draft him and force the Lakers into overpaying in a trade…
😂😂😂😂 he not going to make it long term… everybody capping
I know Bronny not that good, but i never trust Stephen A.S after what he say about Luka and go pick Ayton over him, only judge people after they got to perform in real stage
I only watched the draft for Bronny
Bronny getting that CaitlynClark hate is crazy
It’s gonna take 3 maybe 4 years for bronny to be a superstar especially if he get drafted to a team who’s not going to throw him in the fire
Surprised they have clips of him scoring that 4.2ppg
Good god hes not good enough for the nba currently
This is the most A guy that average 4 points 2 rebounds is being talked about in history that I can remember guy has horrible numbers and still being talked about
The Hip Hop War is definitely because Kendrick bodied that Milli Vanilli clown
What’s he gonna learn playing with Bron. He has some do the worst fundamentals you will see.
I hope Bronny goes to another team than his Dads. He needs his chance to grow and be his own man. If he goes 55 to the Lakers, he'll always hear how his Dad got him in. Then young man doesn't need that. He can overcome it, but it also makes his chance of success that much harder.
Lebron is the biggest distraction on the Lakers and Jaj the new scapegoat
Lakers should draft or just sign undrafted he won’t be a distraction because he will be in G league but still around his father to help him develop
No one should draft bronny….let him play in the summer league like Gelo did the other year then they can evaluate with who or if he deserves the nba tbh
Must be nice to have father literally pressure the team and NBA to draft his son.
This is corrupt. Even LiAngelo Ball is better than Bronny
Bronny is not a distraction until you make him a distraction.
This is pathetic
It’s between Stephen A and Vlad for cutting people off mid sentence. I wonder what a conversation would sound like between them 2!
He should go back to school and get better that's where he should go.
Why is everyone so afraid to say HE'S NOT READY FOR THE NBA!!!!!
Denver makes sense, they develope their players, and the "whose your daddy chants would stop.
LEBRON JAMES SPOKE AGAINST DONALD STERLING FOR ANTI BLACK RACISM..WHEN WILL LEBRON JAMES SPEAK OUT SBOUT FORMER CHICAGO BULLS EMPLOYEE HALLEEMAH NASH ACCUSING JJ REDDICK OF CALLING HER A "N-GG-R " TO HER FACE
WHAT DOES SAVANNAH JAMES THINK?
The best place for Bronny to be drafted is the place that wants him, (not his father, lol)
There is one total boss move that Bronny could have made that would have established that he is his own man. But he didn't make that move, and he never would make that move, and that speaks volumes. He could have signed with someone other than his daddy's Klutch Sports.
If he goes to the Lakers, it won't work. He won't be able to develop in l.a…. they won't be patient, and his career will suffer
Lebron’s gonna see himself as the G League for Bronny. Lakers are gonna have to shallow this one and keep Bronny on the varsity.
If he's there for LAL, he 100% gets picked.
I think Bron wants his son to get his shot with a coach he respects. Set him up best he can by having coaches who agree with them on vision moving forward.
JJ and Bronny are probably in sync with where they see his game going and being on same page there is really important for young prospects. Bronny knows who he is and JJ won't try to change that
Will a 19 year old rookie be a distraction lol
So the team that's gonna be most patient with Bronny is the team whose de facto gm is his dad, who just last year said that Bronny is better than half the players on his roster …. which btw is expected to contend for a title …
They're gonna be more patient than … any other team? Who're just drafting another dude in the 2nd round where no one ever expects a dude to be good right away and would be happy stashing anyone in the G League where they can actually develop?
CJ's logic is like some serial killer explaining why their murders are an act of love.
he has a very slow shot form which is why he struggle during game but in shoot around and in the nba draft combine he was doing well. when pressure and being defended his shot takes too long. tapes don't lie.
Bronny will not be Micheal Jordan sons mark my word
Bronyx being Brony is a grind in itself, just as Tiger's son lives with, i can only hope folks understand the amount of pressure on these young men.
This kid ain’t ready for the smoke 🙂↔️
All they need to do is give Bronny the time they didnt give Kuz, Ingram, and Hart.
Steven A is A hater . I bet if Bron chose the Knicks he would be all about it knowing Bron could leave 👏🏽
Stephen a better count his days at espn 😅
Why all the hand wringing over the 55th pick. The only reason it will be a distraction is the media will make sure it is. Stephen A Smith is already setting the table. What makes me sick is that if you look around the NFL and NBA how many have the same last name? White folks set up and promote their own every dam day and ain't nothing said. This phony concern is shameful.😅
I think Bronny has a more pro style skill set than college; I hope he proves me right