Basketball icon Charles Barkley doesn't hold back as he sharply criticized the Los Angeles Lakers for their handling of Bronny James, the team's second-round draft pick and the son of Lakers superstar LeBron James.
- November 27, 2024
AceShowbiz - NBA legend Charles Barkley has condemned the Los Angeles Lakers' management of Bronny James, the son of superstar LeBron James, following the team's decision to shuffle the rookie between the NBA and its G League affiliate.
During a recent podcast appearance, Barkley criticized both the Lakers and LeBron James for the unconventional plan. "They've handled it awful," Barkley stated. "The kid is not ready to play in the NBA. He should be in the G League so he can get playing time."
Barkley expressed further concern about Bronny only playing home games for the G League South Bay Lakers. "It's stupid," he said. "It's not fair to him or the team. Imagine the coach. You come off a road trip and suddenly you have a player you haven't seen in a couple weeks. You feel obligated to play him."
Barkley believes the Lakers are not doing Bronny any favors by allowing him to split his time between the two squads. "It's a bad look for the Lakers and LeBron," he said.
In six NBA games, Bronny James has played sparingly, averaging 2.7 minutes per game. In his two G League games, he has seen more action, averaging 28.5 minutes but shooting a combined 4-for-19 from the field.
Lakers coach JJ Redick has stated that the plan to move Bronny between the NBA and G League has been in place since the beginning of the season. However, Barkley argues that such a flexible arrangement could disrupt the team's chemistry and put Bronny in an unfair position.
Despite the criticism, LeBron James has expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play alongside his son. "It's one of the greatest gifts I've ever gotten," he said.
