“He’s not a finished product yet”: Charles Barkley gives Bronny James wake-up call about living up to Lakers legacy

11-time NBA All-Star Charles Barkley feels Bronny James is not a finished product and he is going to have his work cut out in the NBA season while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. James Jr. had a tough start in the preseason, scoring two points in his NBA debut whereas he could only manage two rebounds in his second match against the Phoenix Suns.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James with the 55th pick in the second round of the draft.

Bronny, 19, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game in his lone season at USC. But he was sidelined for five months after suffering a cardiac arrest. 

Charles Barkley said on Throwbacks Show, “It’s not going to be easy because he has a target on his back because of his last name. I’m really looking forward to, you know they’ve got to handle this thing with ‘kid gloves’ literally because they just can’t put him out there because he’s not a finished product yet.”

“But man, it’s a great story. I think we saw the Griffeys play in baseball but I can’t think of anybody else where father and son played a pro sport together, not this way.”

On the other hand, NBA analyst Shams Charania reckons the Lakers will play Bronny in the regular season despite his recent struggles.

Charania said on ESPN, “We’re gonna be seeing history very, very soon. The expectation around the Lakers is that their debut together, the first father-son duo in NBA history to play at the same time in a game will be as soon as Opening Night, October 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves at home at Crypto.com Arena, from everything I’m told.

“That is the plan, that is the hope.”

The Lakers will begin their NBA 2024-25 campaign against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 22nd October at the Crypto.com arena.