LeBron James Weighs in on Son Bronny’s Future and College Basketball Landscape

In a candid discussion on his new podcast ‘Mind the Game’, LeBron James, alongside co-host JJ Redick, delved into the complexities surrounding his son Bronny’s potential leap to the professional basketball realm and his observations on the collegiate game.

Reflecting on Bronny’s collegiate journey with USC, LeBron, 39, expressed his conflicted sentiments regarding college basketball versus the NBA. “The NBA is the best league in the world,” James remarked, acknowledging the difficulty of watching his son compete at the college level. “It is hard watching a 40-minute college basketball game. It’s hard. I get more anxiety and I sweat more watching college basketball, especially my son now, than I’ve ever done in my life.”

Moreover, James voiced his reservations about certain aspects of the college game, particularly its tactical approaches. “I’ve never understood why a coach will throw the ball into the post with his big, with no business with the ball in the post,” LeBron opined, hinting at the intricacies and nuances that differ between college and professional basketball strategies.

As Bronny considers his future in basketball, the possibility of an early transition to the pros after a single collegiate season remains uncertain. Despite overcoming a health scare—a cardiac arrest—that sidelined him for eight games, Bronny’s performance this season has been under scrutiny, with modest statistics averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

LeBron, closely monitoring draft projections involving his son, has been vocal about advocating for Bronny’s autonomy and development. Responding to omissions in ESPN’s 2024 NBA Draft mock in February, James emphasized the importance of focusing on the journey and the grind rather than speculative draft prognostications. “Can y’all please just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball?” LeBron wrote in a now-deleted post. “The work and results will ultimately do the talking no matter what he decides to do. If y’all don’t know, he doesn’t care what a mock draft says; he just works! Earned Not Given!”

In a rallying cry to aspiring basketball players, LeBron underscored the significance of perseverance and dedication. “And to all the other kids out there striving to be great, just keep your head down, blinders on, and keep grinding,” James urged. “These Mock Drafts don’t matter one bit! I promise you! Only the WORK MATTERS!! Let’s talk REAL BASKETBALL PEOPLE!”