Bronny James has finally opened up about the heavy criticism he’s faced since entering the NBA. After being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, James has struggled to meet the lofty expectations placed on him.
This season, he has split time between the Lakers and their NBA G League affiliate. After their most recent game against Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets, James made a surprising admission about the emotional toll of his journey.
Bronny James Gets Candid About the Emotional Toll of Hate
LeBron James has undoubtedly been a factor behind his son’s spot in the spotlight. Not only did he publicly express his desire to play with his son in the NBA several times, but he also stated that his son is already better than players in the league.
These statements have weighed heavily as the younger James has tried to establish a role in the Lakers’ rotation, fueling even more scrutiny. All of this has begun to take a toll, and the former USC guard finally offered a brief explanation in an interview with The Athletic.
“My first thought about everything is I always try to just let it go through one ear and out the other, put my head down and come to work and be positive every day. But sometimes it just, it fuels me a little bit,” James said. “I see everything that people are saying, and people think, like, I’m a f***ing robot, like I don’t have any feelings or emotions.”
James then tried to give it a positive spin, saying, “I just take that and use it as fuel for me to go out, wake up every day, and get to the gym early, get my extra work in, watch my extra film every day, get better every day.”
“That’s what Rob [Pelinka, the Lakers’ general manager,] wants me to do as a young guy, coming in, playing in the G League, and learning from far on the bench watching the Lakers play.”
Bronny James:
“I see everything that people are saying, and people think, like, I'm a f***ing robot, like I don't have any feelings or emotions. But I just take that and use it as fuel.”
(via @joevardon, h/t @ClutchPoints) pic.twitter.com/P0KiWVOlXD
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 20, 2025
Fans have high expectations for NBA players, and few have had the opportunity to enter the league as a one-and-done with a college résumé like James’ (4.8 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.1 rebounds). After averaging modest numbers at USC, his path to the NBA was questioned by many analysts.
A breakout stretch — whether in the NBA or G League — could help shift the narrative, but for now, only time will tell how fast James develops and what his true ceiling looks like.