Rachel Nichols criticized the “totally unfair” treatment of Bronny James on Wednesday’s episode of Undisputed.
The former ESPN reporter expressed her concerns about the unrealistic expectations being placed on James, a late second-round draft pick.
“I think that people are looking at him as if he’s a top-10 pick,” Nichols remarked. “He is not a top-10 pick. He is a No. 55 pick. The expectations for a No. 55 pick should be that you are largely headed to the G-League and may get some games up in the NBA.”
Nichols emphasized that the player drafted in the same position last year, Isaiah Wong, only played four minutes in one game for the Indiana Pacers last season. Additionally, Wong played a single minute in the In-Season Tournament Championship Game, which didn’t count as an official game for the 2023-24 regular season.
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James has struggled during the Summer League, missing all 15 of his three-point attempts. However, Nichols highlighted that even high draft picks can have rough games, citing No. 2 pick Alex Sarr, who went 0-for-15 from the floor in a particularly poor performance.
Nichols stressed that no one should expect the 19-year-old James to be a finished product upon entering the NBA. “JJ Redick has come out and said that he’s a developmental player,” she continued. “We all knew this going in. So to sit there and criticize him for Summer League numbers that, as I have said several times, stats do not matter in Summer League.”
Adjusting to the NBA’s faster pace and intense spotlight has likely been challenging for James, Nichols speculated. “The key is getting used to all of that,” she said regarding the media attention. “And the stats, to me, will follow for a No. 55 overall pick.”
Nichols’ comments underscore the need for patience and realistic expectations for young players like Bronny James as they transition to professional basketball.
