Bronny James Gets Support After Criticism From Former Lakers Rival

Photo: Instagram/Bronny James

After the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Bronny James as the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, he faced a lot of criticism. Despite a tough first season at USC, Bronny chose to pursue his NBA dream.

As the son of Lakers star LeBron James, Bronny has received a lot of attention. During the Summer League, an anonymous player from the Lakers criticized Bronny, saying he got special treatment he didn't deserve.

Some NBA players, like Draymond Green from the Golden State Warriors, defended him. Now, former Lakers rival Paul Pierce has also shown his support.

Photo: Instagram/Bronny James

On the FS1 show "Undisputed," Pierce said, "Bronny got drafted, Knecht got drafted, the rest of y’all: fall in line. They’re developing the draft picks. Y’all just here for…what they call the seat fillers when you go to the awards."

Pierce added that Bronny was naturally going to get more attention and called out anonymous critics. He suggested these critics were unlikely to make a significant impact in the NBA.


Despite being labeled as a nepotism pick, Bronny has handled the pressure well. While his game still needs work, the Lakers believe he could become an impactful player if they are patient. Bronny is expected to spend most of the upcoming season in the G-League to continue developing his skills.

Read Next: Charles Barkley Criticizes Team USA Over Jayson Tatum's Bench Time

Source: Sports Illustrated 

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