STEPHEN A. Smith sent a passionate message to LeBron James after his son’s most recent frustrating performance as a Los Angeles Laker.
The fiery personality, 56, criticized the elder James on ESPN’s First Take after Bronny’s brutal performance in Tuesday’s Lakers loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 28: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 28, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)[/caption] X formerly Twitter / @FirstTake‘Stop this’, Stephen A. Smith makes emotional plea live on First Take to LeBron James over Lakers struggler son, , “I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father. Stop this.” , , @stephenasmith, reacts to Bronny James’ play in the Lakers 118-104 loss to the 76ers.[/caption]The 20-year-old Lakers rookie, who also played on the team’s G-League squad, played a season-high 15 minutes, including an unusual 4:33 minutes in the first quarter.
However, the son of the four-time MVP went 0-5 from the field and recorded three turnovers in the contest.
Bronny has continued his struggles, averaging 0.3 points per game on 1 of 16 shooting for the year, and Stephen A. has had enough of seeing him in the professional league.
“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father, stop this, stop this,” Smith said on Wednesday’s edition of First Take.
“We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”
Stephen A. admitted that Bronny playing with his dad during the season’s first game was an “absolutely positively wonderful story.”
“And then reality sets in.
“We love what we’re seeing from him in the G League – because that’s where you belong, as you hone your skills and get better, and you legitimately earn, which I believe he has the potential to do.”
“I am rooting for Bronny James, it would be cruel to root against him. He’s a wonderful kid, I wish him nothing but the best.
“But he’s LeBron James’ son and everybody knows what attention that brings.”
Bronny has been scrutinized since the Lakers selected him in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft after his below-average freshman season with the USC Trojans.
He has fared better in the G League than with the Lakers’ top team.
Last Friday, he scored a career-high 31 points for the South Bay Lakers in a game against the Rip City Remix.
Bronny was called back up to the Lakers afterward, and head coach JJ Redick said he “maybe put him in a tough spot” with the assignment.
Stephen A., on the other hand, believes LeBron has been “exposing” his son in the NBA.
In the G League, Bronny has averaged 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in nine games.
He’s been shooting 36.6 percent from the field, but only 21.2 percent from three-point range.
LeBron thinks the NBA opportunities will only him his son in the long run.
“Obviously it’s his first extensive minutes with us,” James said. “We had the first game where it was just a moment – and that was a great moment.
“But [Tuesday] was his first opportunity to be with the guys, be with the big club, and he’s going to continue to use that and get better and better.”
X formerly Twitter / @FirstTake‘Stop this’, Stephen A. Smith makes emotional plea live on First Take to LeBron James over Lakers struggler son, , “I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father. Stop this.” , , @stephenasmith, reacts to Bronny James’ play in the Lakers 118-104 loss to the 76ers.[/caption]The Lakers will take on the historically-awful 6-36 Washington Wizards on Thursday night.
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