Lakers’ LeBron James Gets Honest About Helping Bronny Jam...

By Matthew Couden

Contributing Writer

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Bronny James had a curious, headline-making arrival to the NBA, becoming a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and, therefore, his father, LeBron James' teammate. That immediately raised eyebrows and questions about how LeBron may have helped Bronny get an NBA career.

The duo generated buzz and history as the first father-son teammates to appear in the same NBA game. However, not much beyond that has been historic for Bronny, despite his father being considered one of the game's all-time greatest players.

He's bounced between the G League and the main league, as the team attempts to perfect their lineups and help him gain more experience as a professional. His father is also doing his best to mentor and guide Bronny, as he recently mentioned in a conversation with two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash.

Read more: Lakers Get Major Change for NBA Cup Game After Luka Doncic Complaint

Los Angeles Lakers players Bronny James and LeBron James

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During "Mind the Game," Nash brought up how Bronny seems to have "made a jump" and is getting more comfortable on the court. He asked LeBron how it's been for him.

“It’s been great. Not only as a father, but as a student of the game, to see someone kind of use what he was able to do last year in the G League. You know, use that. Get more comfortable, then go into Summer League and be even more comfortable, and when his time has been called this year, just continue to feel good about it,” he said.

LeBron also indicated, "For a young player, the more and more time you get, the better you get.”

He said he felt proud of his son's "maturation process," seeing him play well against the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this season, and then play again in a challenging back-to-back situation. LeBron mentioned that key players, including Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Marcus Smart, were out at the time.

Nash asked about LeBron walking that fine line between being Bronny's father and a mentor or leader to the younger players on the Lakers.

“I’m one of the leaders of the team, but we have our side time where I can tell him about what I saw, whatever, but I just want him- he has to walk his own journey. I can give him the blueprint and some of the things I’ve seen, but I want him to walk through the fire,” LeBron admitted, adding that it would be "one of the best teachers."

For the season, Bronny is averaging just 1.9 points, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 rebounds. His field-goal shooting is subpar at 28.6 percent. The Portland back-to-back games his father referenced occurred on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3. In the first, Bronny had two points, two assists, and three steals. The next night, he recorded five points, six assists, a rebound, and a steal in a 123-115 win.

The Lakers are in action on Friday night with an NBA Cup against the Dallas Mavericks. In Bronny's last outing against the Clippers, he scored just a point, but based on LeBron's remarks, every minute he's on the court is helping him improve and mature in his NBA career.

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