It’s historic, it’s heartwarming, it’s the brightest spotlight yet for a franchise that is in desperate need of some good news.
But this is not very smart. And, for the two main people involved, it’s not very fair.
Thus a wet blanket should be thrown over the Lakers engineering the most famous 55th overall pick in NBA draft history.
Yes, they did, of course they did, they drafted a 19-year-old named Bronny James on Thursday to unite with his father LeBron to become the NBA’s first father-son duo.
He did this even though Bronny was overlooked by almost every other team in the NBA despite having a chance to draft him.
He did so as Brown struggled to return from a cardiac arrest incident that cost him five months for USC last season.
He did so even though most experts agreed that his game – five points, three rebounds and two assists per appearance for the Trojans – could have used at least another year of college tuition.
It appears they did it because they do a lot of things – to keep their superstars happy. While LeBron expressed his desire to play with his son should LeBron be out of his contract this summer, they probably felt the need to keep LeBron satisfied at all costs.
But that appears to be a high price to pay.
Granted, the biggest fee won’t come from the Lakers, who, let’s face it, weren’t going to get a star with the 55th pick anyway. It was a selection that didn’t cost them anything, in terms of personnel, it didn’t cost them anything.
LeBron won’t have to pay the biggest price either, getting a chance to make history and play with his son, and where’s the downside to that?
No, sadly, Brawny will command the highest price here.
All the poetic interpretations made by commentators about the beauty of the father-son duo fail to see it from the perspective that it could be from the son’s point of view.
Does Bronny really need this kind of pressure? Is it really fair to ask him to develop his game by sitting on the same bench as the greatest player in history, who also happens to be his father?
Critics will cry “nepotism” on everything. Experts will check his father’s reaction with every shot. It was difficult for Bronny to play college games while sitting on the court with his father and getting all the attention. Can you imagine how hot he would feel with his father wearing the same uniform and walking to the locker nearby?
LeBron James, left, and Bronny James will be the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time. (Gina Frazee/Los Angeles Times) (John Locher/Associated Press)
There will be a shining moment when they initially take the court together in a regular season game, possibly a blowout where Bronny would enter in the final minutes and LeBron would throw him a pass for an alley-oop dunk and history would be made. And everyone will cry.
But other than that photo op, how could playing with her dad feel like anything other than constant controlled chaos for Bronny?
There would hardly be any interview where he was not asked about his father. It would be an even rarer achievement that was not measured in relation to his father.
Late second-round draft picks are rarely seen and rarely heard of. But because of his closeness to his father, everything Bronny does will be filmed and everything he says will go viral.
It would be one thing if he were a top draft pick and had the game to withstand scrutiny. But he was the fourth-to-last pick in the draft who would essentially still be in basketball school.
He may not be learning on the job. He must be learning on fire.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka talks about why the team chose Bronny James and what’s next for LeBron James’ son. (Marissa Cross/Los Angeles Times)
Even though Bronny spends most of his time with the minor-league South Bay Lakers, the circus will follow him. After bravely overcoming a terrifying medical challenge, this young man deserves a chance to find his footing again in his own time, in his own place. Instead, he’s now stuck in the brightest lights amid the most aggressive timetable, obstacle after obstacle, and how fair is that?
A few months ago, when Bronny was asked about the pre-draft hype in the spring, he admitted, “Yeah, it’s a lot.”
Now, it is even more.
During the same press conference, Bronny also said, “My dream has always been to get out there, make a name for myself and of course, you know, go to the NBA. I never thought about playing with my dad. thought…”
his dream. His name. a name. Not two names. But at the moment it seems like an impossible dream.
If it turns out to be as it seems, it might be wise for Bronny to, seriously, ask for a trade to Utah or Oklahoma City for his first act as a Laker.
And he’s not alone in this madness, as new coach JJ Redick may also be involved in Bronny’s troubles.
Think about it. Redick is trying to connect with his stars. He is trying to establish a culture. He’s trying to learn how to lead.
The last thing he needs to worry about is managing the immense hype of a second-round draft pick. Once again, neither smart nor fair.
How many interview questions will involve Bronny’s progress before the game? How much of the daily attention will be focused on a child who rarely plays? How many times will Redick have to protect his veterans from rookie distractions?
And if Bronny develops faster than imagined, how much pressure will Redick feel from LeBron’s camp to give the kid more minutes?
Lakers star LeBron James, right, pats Bronny James on the back before his college debut against Long Beach State in December.
(Jason Armand/Los Angeles Times)
In the words of Bronny, for a rookie NBA head coach, yes, that’s a lot.
By all accounts, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka means well.
He believes in the Lakers’ legacy of greatness, and believes this draft pick supports it.
“It feels like it could be magical,” Pelinka told reporters Thursday. “NBA history should be made in a Laker uniform.”
He believes in the strength of this glamor franchise to withstand intense scrutiny, and believes this move is symbolic of the same.
He said, “The biggest moments in sports happen with the Lakers, and that’s who we are built for, and we’re excited to see this story unfold.”
As far as the brawny and edgy spotlight is concerned, Pelinka believes the kid can handle it, saying, “As he’s growing up, he’s got a fishbowl, whatever you He also has a lot of eyes watching him, he is capable of handling them all.” Extreme maturity.”
More than anything, it seems clear that Pelinka believes he needs to keep LeBron in a carrying uniform, and he’s betting this pick will ensure that.
It’s a safe bet, but a very troubling one.
Bronny is coming. LeBron is staying. The circus is starting.
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