Former Los Angeles Lakers player Kwame Brown has voiced strong criticism regarding Bronny James' position on the team, asserting that James' roster spot was undeserved and likely secured due to his father, LeBron James.
"It's mind-blowing how somebody lost a job to that," Brown stated, expressing disbelief that James has maintained an NBA position. Brown appears to be referencing the Lakers' decision to keep James over former 2024 first-round pick Dalton Knecht. The Lakers reportedly excused both James and Knecht from practice on October 19, shortly before a roster cut.
James has primarily spent his rookie season on the Lakers' bench, appearing in just four games and averaging 2.8 minutes per game. His scoring output has been minimal, with only one point recorded this season. Across his brief NBA career, he averages 2.6 points in an average of 7.8 minutes per game.
"Some kid that worked their butt off that really feels like they could have made the NBA, lost their job to that," Brown elaborated. "The only reason why everybody's okay with it is because of his father."
Brown conveyed his disappointment with James' performance and situation, describing it as "a shame." He believes that James' opportunity in the league is a result of nepotism rather than merit. James is in his first NBA season without his father, LeBron James, on the same team. Lakers head coach JJ Redick has publicly stated his intention to be more selective with player substitutions moving forward, following a near collapse in a recent game where the bench struggled to maintain a lead. "I'll leave the guys in. You gotta play to the final buzzer, and if guys are not ready to play, then I just won't put them in," Redick commented.