LeBron James had been bullish in his approach pushing Bronny into the NBA. On the latest episode of his show, Stephen A. Smith critiqued that, while saying he should have been “mellow”. The pun-laced dig came out while comparing LeBron’s handling of his son’s career to how Carmelo Anthony managed his son’s. Kiyan will follow in his father’s footsteps and play for Syracuse University. Smith congratulated the young guard and his parents for making the mature move.
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He then called out James, saying he should not have pushed Bronny into the NBA so fast.
“[LeBron] publicly stated that he wanted to play with his son [Bronny] in the NBA and then publicly made it happen. So as a result, the criticism that has come Bronny’s way has been excessive and it has been unfair and it has been cruel. But who instigated it? It was LeBron. LeBron… pun intended, all he had to do was be mellow [Melo],” said the ESPN analyst.
Smith acknowledged that Kiyan will also be under immense pressure. Carmelo, after all, had left behind a strong legacy at Syracuse, winning the National Championship in the one season he played with them. However, Kiyan has talent and skill to match his surname, and Smith credited Carmelo for providing his son the room to grow and script his own story.
LeBron, though, was pushing to play with his son in the league. Bronny had an underwhelming college season with the USC Trojans in 2023, averaging a poor 4.8 points per game, with a field goal percentage of 36.6 and a three-point conversation rate of 26.7. Despite this, the four-time MVP ensured his son declared for the 2024 NBA draft. The guard was drafted by the Lakers in the second round, as the 55th pick.
Smith believes LeBron’s influence is the only reason why Bronny is in the NBA. He claimed that this push has played a massive role in the criticism the rookie has been subjected to over the past two months.
The analyst’s take on the stark difference between LeBron and Carmelo’s handling of the careers of their sons is spot on. And Kiyan’s maturity shone through in the way the 17-year-old’s spoke about his future transition into the professional game.
Kiyan is not in a rush to join the NBA
LeBron and Bronny were pretty insistent that the guard would spend only a year at USC regardless of how he performs. Kiyan, on the other hand, is open to staying at Syracuse for multiple seasons to ensure he declares for the draft only when he’s ready to make an impact.
On Angel Reese’s Unapologetically Angel podcast, Kiyan said,
“I feel like one and done happens, it happens, but if it’s like an opportunity to stay, where I could stay two years and then go to the league like that could happen too. Obviously, now with NIL and everything still gonna get paid. You’re still making money in college or you’re in the league so.”
It is commendable that Kiyan does not want to leverage his father’s name.
Meanwhile, Bronny’s career seems to be in choppy waters at the moment. He should have spent more time in college and worked on his game. Instead the youngster is in the G-League now, struggling to make any impact.
The Lakers guard wouldn’t have been as heavily critiqued had he earned his stripes with the USC before declaring for the draft.
