Bronny James: LeBron James makes '​let the kid be a kid' remarks to defend son amid NBA draft chatter

NEW DELHI: Lakers superstar LeBron James took to social media to defend 19-year-old USC freshman Bronny James in response to recent NBA Draft speculation surrounding his son, urging speculators to "let the kid be a kid."
In a now-deleted post on X, LeBron emphasized that the work and results on the court will speak for themselves, regardless of draft projections.The criticism arose after ESPN reportedly removed Bronny from its 2024 mock drafts, now projecting him as a 2025 selection, as indicated by Lakers Daily.


Bronny, a 6-4 guard, faced a health setback when he went into cardiac arrest during a USC workout in July, resulting in surgery to address a congenital heart defect. After a delayed start to his freshman season, he made his debut in mid-December and has averaged 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in 19 appearances.

LeBron James had previously expressed confidence in his son's NBA prospects, suggesting last month that Bronny could play for the Lakers "right now." The Lakers, according to The Athletic, were reported to be open to the idea of adding Bronny to the roster this offseason, with LeBron's desire to play alongside his son long being considered a shared dream.
LeBron James, at 39, faces increased scrutiny amid a challenging season for the Lakers, who currently stand ninth in the Western Conference with a 31-28 record. Speculation about LeBron's future intensified after he posted an hourglass emoji on social media before the NBA trade deadline, with reports indicating the Golden State Warriors inquiring about trading for the veteran player. LeBron, holding a player option for the 2024-25 season, is maintaining solid averages of 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game in his 21st NBA season.
(Inputs from agencies)