NBA legend Charles Barkley has voiced strong disapproval over the Los Angeles Lakers’ handling of rookie guard Bronny James. Speaking on the Bettor Angle podcast, Barkley criticized both the Lakers’ management and LeBron James for the unconventional approach of shuffling Bronny between the NBA and the G League.
Charles Barkley Concerns on Bronny’s Development
“They’ve handled it awful,” Barkley said. “The kid is not ready to play in the NBA. He should be in the G League so he can play basketball. He’s not going to get better sitting on the bench.”
Bronny, 20, made history alongside his father in October as the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game. Despite the milestone, Barkley believes Bronny’s limited NBA role and part-time G League participation hurt his development.
“This thing where he’s only going to play home games? It’s stupid,” Barkley stated. “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 there’s a player you haven’t seen in weeks. Then you feel like you’ve got to play him. They’re not doing Bronny any favors.”
The decision for Bronny to split time between the Lakers and their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, was reportedly part of the team’s plan from the start. Head coach JJ Redick reiterated this in October, saying, “The plan for Bronny to move between the Lakers and South Bay has always been the plan since day one.
Barkley, however, suggested that LeBron James’ influence might have affected the team’s decisions, calling it a “bad look” for the NBA superstar. “I really like everything LeBron has done, but this is a bad look for him, in my opinion,” Barkley said.
Bronny has played two G League games, averaging five points and three assists in over 28 minutes per game. Critics argue that his limited minutes and sporadic schedule hinder his chances to grow as a player.
While Barkley’s comments highlight concerns about fairness and development, LeBron James remains focused on cherishing the unique opportunity to share the court with his son. “It’s one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever gotten, and I’m going to take full advantage of it,” LeBron said.