It’s one thing to be proud of your child for their work ethic and dedication to craft. But to do so while watching almost all predicting their failure, picked apart for every minute misstep, and well because they have a certain surname. Yes, we are talking about LeBron James and his son, Bronny James. But this is no news, is it? After all, the 19-year-old has been under the microscope far longer than perhaps anybody. Yet, he isn’t giving up, and neither is his father.

The Lakers rookie seems to be focused on just one and only one thing – be better. And he found the perfect place to hone his craft. James’ story update on IG showcased Bronny tirelessly working hard in a court and a close look at the video shows that he is at the Sierra Canyon facility. It really seemed to have hit Papa James in all the right spots as he penned an emotional message for his son.

“Keep working kid and f*<k all the hate/noise! You know your personal legend! THEY DONT KNOW YOU!” It was a clear message for everyone who talked like they knew Bronny better than himself or his parents to stay away. Yet there was no mistaking the pride behind those words. Bron followed his powerful reminder with a brown heart and a salute emoji, tagging his eldest.

If we were to touch upon every instance of Bronny James getting the short end of the stick, it would easily, at the very least, provide 10 articles of this length. And that’s just the starters! As Gilbert Arenas pointed out in an episode of his show, anything to do with Bronny immediately gets media attention. Even if some things are said in jest, leave it to the analysts and talking heads to turn it into a point of contention.

Remember how Rashad McCants reacted to LeBron’s humorous “can call me GOAT” comment?

LeBron James gets an earful from McCants for making his son call him ‘GOAT’

The 4x champion, along with the rest of the NBA, is treading unchartered waters now. This is the first time they have had a father and son play on the same court. But LeBron James seems to have laid some ground rules already with regard to what Bronny would call him when working. “He got to call me ‘2-3’, or ‘Bron’, or ‘G.O.A.T,’ if he want to.” 

Fair enough. Bron wouldn’t want his teammates getting uncomfortable (or the rest of the league, for that matter). Hence, it was a reasonable ask. But was it? Apparently, for ex-NBA star Rashad, it wasn’t. It was too big of an ask for him. “That’s nasty work! That’s the nastiest of work he could ever have. Nobody can call. Nobody playing basketball on your team should be referencing that,” he stated recently.

Now, we don’t know what triggered the former guard, but he certainly didn’t find the humor in the whole situation, as his co-hosts did. While the rest of Gil’s Arena crew were near tears, laughing at the hilarious situations that could result in if Bronny indeed called LeBron James ‘Dad’ or even any of the options the 20x All-Star himself laid out, McCants was shaking his head. Clearly, he wasn’t a fan.

This is more of a lighthearted example of the scenario we mentioned earlier. There’s no doubt that they are going to be readily available in the future. But come what may, Bronny knows that he’s got his father in his corner. Not as the global superstar, LeBron James, but simply as his ‘Dad’.

 Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.