It'd be more irresponsible to pretend to not hear the noise than it would be to acknowledge it. Ever since the Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James at No. 55 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, the critics have swarmed and produced the narrative that he's in the Association because of nepotism.
Debates can rage for as long as one would like them to, but the only thing that James can do at this point is let his game speak for itself.
That came to a head during the Lakers' preseason finale, as the five starters and Dalton Knecht were all rested for the second leg of an unnecessary back-to-back. Los Angeles inevitably struggled, falling 132-74 in a lopsided ending to the preseason.
The team may have lost, but James stepped up and delivered a preseason game that all but directly responded to the critics.
The Lakers may not have played their starters, but the Warriors featured just about everyone but Stephen Curry. Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Andrew Wiggins all saw the court, as did 3-and-D specialist De'Anthony Melton, and sharpshooters Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski.
Matched up against a slew of NBA players, James unexpectedly showed out with a performance that showcased his ability on both ends of the floor.
Bronny James shows out against GSW, proving there's talent to explore
James finished the preseason finale with 17 points, four rebounds, one assist, three steals, and a block in 35 minutes of action. He shot 7-of-17 from the field and 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, as well as a perfect 2-of-2 at the free throw line.
It wasn't the most breathtaking display in NBA history, but it was a clear example of the fact that James has talent worth developing.
The idea that any talented player could walk in and produce on both ends of the floor, let alone one, against NBA players is a fallacy. Even when James was matched up with roster hopefuls, he was still going up against individuals who were top-tier players in college.
This does absolutely nothing to establish James as an NBA-caliber player, but it offers a clear example of why he was a late second-round pick who will have a chance to develop in the G League.
The narrative will follow James throughout his career, as he was drafted by the team that his legendary father plays for. What's done is done, however, and now it's simply a matter of capitalizing on the opportunity to one day enter an NBA rotation.
In the meantime, it'll be a matter of utilizing the G League as a potential launching pad for his success, as well as the potter's wheel upon which he can be crafted into the best version of himself.
If it turns out that James is unable to play at the level necessary to join the NBA roster and excel accordingly, then those are the unfortunate breaks. He's 20 years of age, however, and the Lakers signed him to a four-year deal with the intention of developing him long-term.
If the preseason finale proved anything, it's that talent isn't the question with James—it's consistency, refinement, and how patient and determined he can be with his own development.