Jaylen Brown’s (supposed) sideline comment about Bronny James during a Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers Summer League exhibition ignited quite the reaction.
Bronny, son of NBA leading scorer LeBron James, spent just a single season at USC before being selected 55th overall in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Benefiting from nepotism and the influence of Klutch Sports Group CEO and agent Rich Paul, the 19-year-old landed in Los Angeles despite a modest collegiate campaign and has since struggled to perform in the Summer League.
Gilbert Arenas, an 11-year NBA veteran and three-time All-Star, stood in defense of the younger James and went after Brown, too, in the process.
“Jaylen Brown. Do you know what they said about him in Summer League?” Arenas asked on Underdog Fantasy’s “Gil’s Arena” podcast. “He was the third pick in the NBA draft. The third pick in the NBA draft. The first three games, just like Bronny, Bronny was 6-for-26, Jaylen Brown was 5-for-26 from the field in his first three games in Summer League.”
Arenas added: “No one bashed him and he was the third pick in the NBA draft. He was the third pick in the NBA draft and no one put any pressure on him.”
While the Celtics defeated the Lakers, 88-74, Brown was caught on camera allegedly saying, “I don’t think Bronny is a pro.” James averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists, shooting 36.6% from the field and 26.7% from 3-point range. He was hampered after suffering cardiac arrest before the season began, but still managed to suit up for 25 games with the Trojans before declaring for the draft.
“It’s a flex to have your son alongside you in the NBA it reflects greatness and longevity!” Brown posted on X to address the comment. “Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful I look forward to watching his growth.”
James showed slight flashes of defensive potential but didn’t produce offensively, and those shooting woes carried over to Las Vegas as for the first three Summer League appearances for the Lakers, James has shot 5-for-26 from the field, carrying an 0-for-11 (from three) stretch into Wednesday night’s 12-point showing against the Atlanta Hawks.
Pointing the finger toward Brown’s Summer League start eight years ago doesn’t necessarily hold as much weight as Arenas claims. Brown, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, was a legitimate athletic stud coming out of Cal before joining the Celtics. Boston was aware of the improvement needed on Brown’s outside shooting abilities, but aside from that then-glaring flaw, Brown was more than capable of holding his own on an NBA floor.
So far, the same can’t be said for James, although only time will tell.
