Lakers star LeBron James hasn’t been shy about hoping to one day play with his son Bronny in the NBA.
With Bronny’s first season at USC underway, that dream could soon become a reality. However, not everyone believes LeBron’s dream is best for Bronny.
Former NBA player Austin Rivers spoke about the issue on ESPN’s “NBA Today” show on Monday. Rivers brings relevant experience to the table, as he played under his own father, head coach Doc Rivers, for three and a half of his 11 NBA seasons.
The Clippers acquired Austin Rivers during his third NBA season, and he then signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract with a player option that offseason. After a year of playing for his father in Los Angeles, he decided to decline his player option so the Clippers could sign him to a hefty three-year, $35.5 million contract.
That deal brought with it a lot of criticism, especially since it came from the franchise that also employed his father.
Austin Rivers compared his situation to what Bronny could experience playing alongside LeBron.
DECOR: LeBron would be doing Bronny a favor by allowing him to develop as an NBA prospect in due time.
“I don’t want to see Bronny play with his dad. I really don’t,” Rivers said. “I went through something similar… What happens is that a lot of people start to discredit what you’ve done.
“…I don’t want that negativity to get to him because he doesn’t deserve it,” Rivers continued. “He’s not a top-10 pick, he’s not a lottery pick, he’s not any of those things. I was all of those things. And when I went to the Clippers people still told me, ‘You’re only in the league for.'” your dad” after I was the number one player in the United States two years earlier.
“…It would just be a lot, man. I hope he can play somewhere where he can etch his own identity… I’m a Bronny fan. I really am. I just hope he can go somewhere else.” “.
“I don’t want to see Bronny play with [LeBron]… When he gets drafted and plays with his dad, I don’t want that negativity to come his way. He does not deserve it… [He needs to] play somewhere where you can define your own identity.
– Austin Riverspic.twitter.com/GwBK2C4GOl– Clutch Points (@ClutchPoints) February 5, 2024
Rivers is right. A former five-star recruit and No. 1 player in the country, he went on to star at Duke. Rivers averaged 15.5 points per game as a freshman, earning First Team All-ACC and ACC Rookie of the Year honors. The Pelicans ended up selecting him 10th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Bronny, on the other hand, entered college as a four-star recruit. The start of his first season was derailed by a heart problem, but he has averaged just 5.9 points and 2.6 assists per game upon his return.
He’s not projected to be a top-10 pick, and he may not even be a unique prospect. But if he turns pro (and gets drafted by the same team as LeBron), the haters will be waiting for the chance to say they only picked him because of his dad.
Even with that reasoning, some observers didn’t like Rivers comparing his situation to that of the son of arguably the greatest player in NBA history.
Former NBA champion Stephen Jackson didn’t mince his words when he expressed his opinion in the @sidelinesources Instagram Comments Sectionstating in a comment: “The difference you’re trash, not Bronny. You can’t compare to him.”
In another comment, Jackson added: “And your dad, not LeBron. Shut up.”
Naturally, it didn’t take long for the comments to reach Rivers, who decided to take the high road.
“All smiles… I didn’t even have to fight my own battles with ignorance, you guys corrected me!” rivers aware on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Thank you for not taking the side of deception. Have a blessed day.”
Jackson’s scathing comments aside, both sides of the argument carry weight. Without a doubt, it would be great to see Bronny and LeBron team up in the NBA. But it would also be validation for James’ oldest son to carve his own path in the league.
