Charles Barkley Was Right About Lakers Rookie Bronny James

Charles Barkley discusses Lakers rookie Bronny James' potential.

Bronny James, the 20-year-old rookie for the Los Angeles Lakers, has been a significant talking point during the 2024-25 NBA season. After a slow start, the former USC guard has shown promise in his recent G League games with South Bay, but his NBA debut against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 28 raised questions about his readiness for the league. In the 15 minutes he played, Bronny recorded three rebounds, one assist, and one block and struggled with his shooting, going 0-for-5 from the field and 0-for-3 from beyond the arc.

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Before the season began, NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley commented about Bronny’s development, which now seems spot on. In October, Barkley said, “Bronny is a prospect. Number one, I am glad he’s healthy. I think he should be in the G League. He’s not ready to play in the NBA right now. He should be in the G League because he’s not ready to play in the NBA, first and foremost.” Barkley also emphasized that Bronny is still figuring out his role as a point guard and shooting guard and that his best attribute is defense.

Despite Barkley’s caution, Bronny has continued to receive NBA minutes. He has appeared in 13 NBA games for the Lakers, averaging modest numbers. However, his time in the G League has been more productive. In three regular-season G League games, he has averaged 23 points, six rebounds, 4.7 assists, and two steals per game, shooting 43.4% from the field and 45.8% from three-point range.

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While Bronny may not yet be ready for consistent NBA play, his time in the G League could be crucial to his maturation as a professional basketball player.