Shaquille O’Neal is throwing his full support behind Bronny James as the rookie begins his journey in the NBA.
In a recent encounter with TMZ, the legendary “Big Aristotle” shared his thoughts on LeBron James’ son, Bronny, who has elicited mixed reactions with his entrance into the league.
“Keep playing hard, Bronny,” Shaq affectionately encouraged. “Uncle Shaq loves you.” O’Neal’s supportive words carry significant weight, given his own experience both as a player and as a father to an aspiring professional basketball player.
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Shaq’s son, Shareef O’Neal, has faced similar challenges. Shareef, like Bronny, dealt with a congenital heart defect that required open-heart surgery.
Despite these obstacles, Shareef pursued his basketball dreams, going undrafted but later joining the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2022 NBA Summer League. In September 2022, Shareef signed with the NBA G League Ignite as a veteran player. During his time with the Lakers, Shareef faced criticism from various pundits and former NBA players, including ex-Laker Robert Horry, who questioned his potential to make it in the NBA.
Now, Bronny is navigating the same kind of scrutiny. However, according to his father, LeBron James, Bronny is unfazed by the external noise. “I don’t know if people really understand Bronny,” LeBron told ESPN. “He doesn’t care. I actually care a little bit. When I came in [as a rookie], I wanted people to like me, and some of the things that people were saying about me kind of bothered me early on in my career… He doesn’t give a f**k. He does not care about nobody. He doesn’t even listen to that stuff. He’s like the coolest. He’s like the complete opposite of his dad. His dad will say something [to address the critics]. Bro does not care… Everything that’s being said about him, he really does not care.”
In June, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, marking a historic moment as LeBron and his eldest son became the first father-son duo to play in the league simultaneously. In his initial NBA Summer League appearances, Bronny has averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
As Bronny embarks on his professional career, the support from seasoned veterans like Shaquille O’Neal and the steadfast encouragement from his father, LeBron, will undoubtedly be invaluable. Despite the scrutiny and high expectations, Bronny’s focus and determination promise an exciting future in the NBA.
