For those who believe Bronny James has proven Stephen A. Smith wrong, you’re mistaken. The younger James showcased his talent by leading the Los Angeles Lakers in scoring and assists during a blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, finishing the game with 17 points, five assists, and three rebounds. This performance is noteworthy for a No. 55 pick in his rookie season.
Impressive enough for Stephen A. Smith to declare “I told you so” the following morning on First Take. Ironically, this is the same Stephen A. Smith whom LeBron James confronted during a Lakers game for being overly critical of his son. He once expressed, “I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.” Now, he seems eager to remind everyone of his belief in Bronny’s NBA potential.
“I’ve always believed that this kid has the potential, once I watched him, to be in the NBA.” – Stephen A. Smith on Bronny James pic.twitter.com/AhhVSU8ocd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 21, 2025
Smith even questioned, “I might have been wrong. Are you listening, LeBron James? Are you listening, James’ family? Are you listening, Rich Paul? Because my position all along was that Bronny needed a year in the G League. Let him develop there first, but I’ve always believed he has NBA potential.” This signals a shift in his stance; after watching Bronny’s performance, Smith admits that he may be ready for the NBA sooner than he initially thought.
“This notion that I disrespected his son is simply false,” Smith asserted. “We have ample evidence showing otherwise. While I believed he needed G League time to prepare for the NBA, I liked what I saw last night. I will maintain the same energy; we will give him credit when he plays well and critique him when he doesn’t.”
He concluded, “Congrats on a strong performance last night. I genuinely believe he’ll be a bona fide NBA player sooner than many expect.” The challenge remains that fans and media have not maintained this balanced perspective towards other second-round rookies. Bronny is the first No. 55 pick in NBA history to enter with high expectations and debate across sports shows.
Much of this stems from the expectations LeBron placed on him by proclaiming his son was NBA-ready in high school. However, unlike other No. 55 picks, Bronny hasn’t had the same opportunity to develop. Smith may believe his critique is consistent, but the energy directed at LeBron’s son starkly contrasts how other second-round draft picks are assessed.
