The Los Angeles Lakers are 6-2 to start the 2026-27 NBA season. However, they nearly squandered a 15-point lead against the Kawhi Leonard-less Toronto Raptors a couple of games ago, with the collapse coming after Bronny James checked in during garbage time.
As expected, the second-year guard became a target for fans and critics after the game. Former No. 1 overall pick Kwame Brown joined the criticism a little later, but he didn't hold back.
"Are we serious right now?" Brown asked . "Tell me this is a joke…LeBron, come on, dog. Bronnie didn't have to go through this. I do not understand why this kid is playing NBA basketball. The amount of mental stuff that this kid is going through and have to deal with, it was the worst 90 seconds of basketball I ever seen in my life."
Bronny has long been a source of frustration for NBA fans, many of whom believe he only landed in Los Angeles because of his father, LeBron James, who was still the franchise's centerpiece when the organization drafted him. The backlash only intensified when he received a standard NBA contract rather than the two-way deal typically handed to players selected in the later rounds of the draft.
Bronny's performance during his first two years in the league didn't help. Nor did his outing against the Raptors.
"This is the National Basketball Association. This isn't ain't for the little boys and wimps. This is professional, and what I saw, I just don't get it. It's mind-blowing how somebody lost a job to that. Some kid that worked their butt off, that really feels like they could have made the NBA, they lost their job to that. And the only reason why everybody is okay with it is because of his father. This is a shame, what we're actually seeing," Brown added.
After averaging a measly 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game during his rookie season, Bronny didn't improve much in his sophomore year — he averaged 2.9 points, 0.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists. This season, Bronny has played in just four games and a total of 11 minutes.
To his credit, he's made two out of his three shot attempts this year and has only committed two turnovers. However, after that near-debacle versus Toronto, it's hard to make an argument that he needs more time to prove himself. In 1:44 of playing time, Bronny was a -11 on the floor, with the only stat he recorded being the one turnover.
Last month, Jason Whitlock also weighed in on Bronny's NBA career. He said the latter would most likely have been a successful football player, either playing for a major college program or even in the NFL right now. However, he was not allowed to pursue other sports.
"Bronny James, with a different father, would be an outside linebacker or free safety on a major college football team, seen as a first- or second-round draft pick. You gotta be such a dog at 6'3″. You gotta be Patrick Beverley to survive at that size, particularly if you're not a scorer," Whitlock said .
"This guy has tremendous athleticism for football, and he was never given a chance. He may be an NFL tight end. I have some sympathy for Bronny James. He should have been allowed to pursue something else besides basketball."
Bronny's contract includes a team option in 2027-28. Given how he is performing this season, especially after that game against the Raptors, this might be the last year Brown, Whitlock and others will complain about him.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
