Bronny James may not have many defenders in the sports media or outside the NBA, but he has a significant ally in Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick. Throughout his rookie season, Bronny has faced relentless scrutiny and criticism, particularly for being a second-round draft pick. Prominent figures like Stephen A. Smith have even urged LeBron to reconsider allowing his son to start an NBA career, suggesting that Bronny’s opportunity is merely a case of nepotism.
On Thursday night, Bronny momentarily quieted some of his detractors by leading the Lakers in points and assists during a challenging game against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 17 points alongside five assists and three rebounds. Following the game, Redick commended Bronny not only for his on-court performance but also for his ability to weather the criticism off the court.
JJ Redick praised Bronny and the James family for how they have dealt with all the noise surrounding him and maintains his confidence he’ll develop into an NBA player: pic.twitter.com/rGY4JvnEXg
— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) March 21, 2025
“I saw some video interviews that he did at the combine in May,” Redick recalled. “At that time, I was just an NBA analyst and podcaster, not the Lakers coach, but I reached out to Bron. I was impressed—‘Man, Bronny has his head on straight. He gets it.’ Since day one, I’ve admired his composure amidst the criticism he faces due to his father’s prominence.” Redick emphasized that Bronny’s maturity and his family’s influence, particularly from LeBron and Savannah, reflect positively on him.
That said, some of the “bullsh*t” Bronny faces can be attributed to LeBron himself, who orchestrated Bronny’s transition to the Lakers for the chance to be the first father-son duo in the NBA. LeBron had previously claimed that Bronny was already better than some NBA players while he was still in high school and publicly challenged Stephen A. Smith over criticisms directed at Bronny during a game.
No second-round NBA draft pick has encountered the level of scrutiny that Bronny James has faced this season. He is the first No. 55 pick in NBA history to enter the league with expectations and has been a topic of intense debate across numerous sports shows.
Earlier this week, Bronny acknowledged that he is aware of all the “noise” or “bullsh*t,” as Redick describes it, but insists he channels it as motivation. His performance on Thursday night suggests that his strategy might be paying off.
