The Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to keep Bronny James with the NBA squad instead of sending him on the road with the G-League affiliate has sparked criticism from none other than Charles Barkley. The Inside the NBA analyst voiced his disapproval of how the Lakers are handling LeBron James’ eldest son’s development, calling it a “bad look” for the team.
In a recent episode of ‘The Bettor Angle’ podcast, the 61-year-old NBA legend expressed his concerns, saying, “The kid is not ready to play in the NBA.
He should be in the G-League so he can play basketball.” Barkley was not shy about pointing out what he sees as a misstep by the Lakers, suggesting that the team’s approach to Bronny’s early career could be doing more harm than good.
Bronny James was taken in the second round of the NBA Draft this past June. Despite the excitement around his move to the pros, there has been considerable skepticism surrounding the decision. Bronny had a brief and somewhat underwhelming college career at USC, and his performance at pre-draft combines failed to wow scouts.
As a 6-foot-2 combo guard with limited experience, it seemed like a logical choice for him to spend much of his rookie season in the G-League, honing his skills with the South Bay Lakers in El Segundo.
However, the Lakers have opted for an unconventional approach. Instead of allowing Bronny to travel with the G-League team, they’ve kept him with the NBA roster whenever South Bay is on the road. This decision effectively limits his opportunities for playing time, keeping the raw prospect from gaining valuable in-game experience.
RELATED: Shaq and Charles Barkley Make $5 Million Bet Live on ‘Inside the NBA’
Barkley did not hold back in his criticism of this approach. “And also, this thing where he’s only gonna play home games,” Barkley said. “It’s stupid, it’s not fair to him. It’s not fair to the team. Can you imagine the coach of that team? You come off a road trip, and you have a player you haven’t seen in a week or two. And then you probably feel like you gotta play him.
“I don’t think they are doing Bronny any favors. They have just handled this thing very badly. It’s a bad look for the Lakers. I really like everything LeBron has done. But it’s a bad look for him [too], in my opinion.”
So far, Bronny’s performance has been modest at best. In his two G-League games, he has averaged 5 points and 3 assists in 28.5 minutes per game. At the NBA level, his impact has been even more limited, averaging just 0.7 points per game in 2.3 minutes of action over six appearances. These numbers highlight the need for more development time, which Barkley believes would be best served in the G-League.
Barkley is not the only one critical of the Lakers’ handling of Bronny. ESPN’s Ryan Clark, a former NFL player, also expressed his disapproval. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Clark questioned what Bronny has done to earn his current role. “What has Bronny earned?” Clark wrote. “He should want to prove himself to his teammates, his organization. More importantly, prove it to himself that he belongs!”
Clark’s sentiment contrasts with some of his ESPN colleagues, who have downplayed the concerns surrounding Bronny’s NBA entry. For instance, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski dismissed criticisms of nepotism, stating, “The NBA is full of nepotism. The ownership level, front offices, coaching. I don’t want to hear about it all of a sudden because Bronny James’ father plays for the Lakers. It is rampant in this league.”
Jay Williams, another ESPN analyst, echoed similar thoughts, but with a different perspective. “Don’t we need more instances of black nepotism?” Williams argued. “Especially when that person has the disposition and the demeanor of somebody that’s worthy of being put in that position.”
ESPN may find itself revisiting its stance on Bronny’s role next season, as Charles Barkley’s popular TNT-produced show, Inside the NBA, will soon air on ESPN. This follows news that Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns TNT, will lose domestic media rights to the NBA, allowing ESPN to carry the show.
The announcement has led many to speculate on whether ESPN’s top personalities, like Stephen A. Smith, will join the iconic Inside the NBA crew, which includes Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson.
However, ESPN president Burke Magnus shot down that notion during an interview with Sports Illustrated, emphasizing that Inside the NBA would remain a TNT show, even if aired on ESPN, and would not incorporate ESPN talent.
Whether this arrangement will affect Barkley’s ability to speak his mind remains unclear. A longtime critic of ESPN, Barkley jokingly remarked to his co-host Kenny Smith, “We’ve got to go back to kissing ass” if they were indeed moving to ESPN.
Barkley’s candor is part of what makes Inside the NBA one of the most beloved sports shows on television, and it remains to be seen how his outspoken nature will mesh with the culture at ESPN.
Barkley’s infamous humor was highlighted in a past episode where he literally kissed a donkey’s rear end after losing an on-air bet to Smith.
For now, Barkley’s criticisms of the Lakers and their handling of Bronny James are just another example of his willingness to tackle controversial subjects head-on, regardless of the network or audience.
