Welcome to the NBA, Bronny James!
In what was the worst-kept novelty of a storyline in the sports world in LeBron and Bronny one day gracing the NBA together, we're finally here!
First, congrats to Bronny! Entering the NBA is incredibly difficult, especially more than ever considering its global reach. Regardless, he is now part of the fraternity and amongst the elite in the game. Haters will say what they want, but he's there.
And second, congratulations to LeBron and Savannah James. What will be lost in all of this is that they raised a strong young man who yes, took advantage of his access and genetics, and is now at this point in his life - his ultimate goal. Bronny at the core, had no reason to want this - none. He easily could have rested, relaxed, and enjoyed the spoils of this birth lottery. Instead, he wanted what h knew would be the shadow of a massive legacy - and still did the work. That takes guts.
I commend the kid for not resting on Dad's name and wealth. And as a father, you know that comes directly from how he was raised. Again, kudos to the parents.
It'll be interesting to see them take the court for the first time together. And for fathers everywhere, especially sports-loving fathers, it won't be difficult to identify with such a dream for mere mortals, which can only be realistically played out in the driveway (or in NBA 2K).
Personally, I wanted the storyline to go another route.
I wanted Bronny to go elsewhere. I really did.
Anywhere else other than how we expected it to be - becoming a Laker. I would have found so much more enjoyment (and credibility - more on that in a second) in Bronny suiting up as a Wizard, or a Spur, or even yes, as a Celtic. Hey, what if he ended up on the Cavaliers?!
I won't sit here and say what has become a lazy narrative - he's not good enough! Because I honestly do not know anymore (or less) about Bronny than I do about the international talent taken at picks 1 and 2.
For me, where this great story is tainted is that it feels fabricated. Orchestrated. Manipulated. Inorganic.
Yes, even dashed with Nepotism. I'll leave that to you to decide on your ethical barometer.
But I believed Bronny when he said he wanted to be his own man. He wanted to be Bronny. Not Lebron's kid.
I'm not sure he gets that on the Lakers. And we surely haven't gotten that from the social temperature on how this all went down.
For me, you know what's better than LeBron receiving a bounce pass from Bronny for a fast-break dunk?
Bronny checks into the game donning the uniform of another franchise - having grinded his way to the rotation - and immediately checking Dad at the top of the key.
Cinema. Story. Organic. Total NBA Ethos.
Just like the driveway. But on the bigger stage.