Bronny James walked into the Chase Center on Tuesday night with something to prove. Instead, he walked out with a performance that had NBA fans questioning whether he belongs on an NBA roster at all. The son of Lakers superstar LeBron James struggled mightily against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 California Classic, putting up numbers that gave his harshest critics all the ammunition they needed.
This turned out to be a disastrous outing for the Los Angeles Lakers guard. James, who started the game, managed just two points over 15 minutes while shooting 1-of-5 from the field. He added an assist, a rebound, and two steals, but the 20-year-old also committed three careless turnovers and launched a couple of airballs that had fans cringing.
Why Are NBA Fans Roasting Bronny James After His Summer League Struggles?
The Lakers drafted James last year after he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists with the USC Trojans during his freshman season in college. That move raised plenty of eyebrows, with critics questioning why Los Angeles would gamble on an undersized guard who hadn’t proven himself at the collegiate level.
Tuesday’s performance only added fuel to that fire. The NBA Summer League gives fringe players like James the perfect opportunity to showcase their skills and earn meaningful minutes. So far, he’s done little to silence the doubters who believe he’s not ready for a bigger role in the NBA.
Bronny James tonight:
🔶 2 PTS
🔶 2 REB
🔶 1 AST
🔶 2 STL
🔶 1/5 FG
🔶 3 TOV
🔶 15 MIN pic.twitter.com/pblQ4cUx0j— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) July 9, 2025
NBA fans on social media wasted no time tearing apart James’ performance, with words like “overrated” flying around Twitter.
“Bronny haters won tn,” commented one fan on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Bronny haters won tn
— cheesedamenace (@weeneyman) July 9, 2025
“Most overrated player ever maybe,” said another fan.
🗑️ most overrated player ever maybe
— apathy⏳ (@apathyDEFI) July 9, 2025
The criticism went beyond just one bad game. Many fans believe that James, now entering his second year in the league, still doesn’t deserve a roster spot in the Lakers’ lineup.
“Dude isn’t cut for the NBA. You had your five minutes, now move on,” commented a fan.
Dude isn’t cut for the NBA. You had your five minutes, now move on.
— NYCXPROPHET (@NYCXPROPHET) July 9, 2025
“Bronny should stay in the summer league!” said one fan.
What Does Bronny’s Draft History Mean for His Future?
The Lakers selected James with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA draft. That move paired James with his father, making them the first father-son duo to step on an NBA court together. However, many wondered whether James, who had just turned 20 at the time, was ready to make the leap to professional basketball.
The fan criticism extended beyond just his on-court performance. Some believe his presence affects the team’s ability to attract other talent.
“LeBron & Son is why no “Star” will come to LA to help Luka out,” commented one account. “Just a reminder: 55th pick with a guaranteed four-year contract,” said a fan.
Just a reminder – 55th pick with a guaranteed 4 year contract 🗑️🗑️🗑️
— Jeremy (@paykash_) July 9, 2025
During the 2024-25 season, James appeared in 27 games for the Lakers and even started one game. He averaged 6.7 minutes per game, recording 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists.
The Lakers added some reinforcements this offseason in Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Adou Thiero, but the roster remains thin. James will likely see more playing time in the upcoming 2025-26 season. Lakers coach JJ Redick is hoping the young guard can use the Summer League as a platform to develop and prove his worth to the organization and skeptical fans alike.
