On March 6, 2025, something unpredictable happened. Nobody saw it coming! LeBron James was in a verbal spat with ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith right after the overtime thriller Lakers-Knicks game. Bron expressed his displeasure over Smith’s critical remarks about his son, Bronny James. The courtside exchange quickly went viral, prompting discussion among fans and analysts whether Smith indeed had been too harsh about a rookie.

Smith did clarify the situation the very next morning on his show, saying that his critique was directed more at Bron and his handling of his son rather than Bronny himself. But the deed was done. Fire was ignited. It was controversial, gaining widespread reactions from everyone. Among those coming to Bronny’s aid was NBA veteran and LeBron’s ally – Chris Paul.

In an interview with Taylor Rooks, Paul dismissed the negativity surrounding Bronny as baseless. “I think anybody who hates on that situation and got a chance to see that is basically just envious or jealous,” Paul stated. He emphasized that Bronny’s work ethic, not favoritism, was the key factor in his progress.

Paul, who shares a long-standing friendship with LeBron dating back to their high school years, has closely followed Bronny’s journey. “I think, the thing that I’ve been most proud of… is knowing how much work Bronny put in,” CP3 said, his pride evident.

The positive remarks in the situation warrant skepticism from fans, whether CP3’s persona ties to the James family influence his statement. He is Bronny’s godfather after all. But for someone’s who’s been keeping a close eye on his progress, this does add value on part of the James-duo.

“He’s [Bronny] been faced with all these different things, not saying this right or wrong, but he’s been faced with all these different things at this age. Oh, he ain’t that good at this age. And Bronny, just keep his head down, and he do the work,” Paul further pointed out.

Bronny James has been tearing it in the G League

Bronny James may not be making waves in the NBA just yet, but his development in the G League is telling a different story. The Lakers rookie has appeared in 18 NBA games, averaging just 1.4 points on 25.8% shooting—hardly numbers that silence the doubters. But anyone paying attention knows his true progress is happening in South Bay.

The Lakers drafted Bronny 55th overall in 2024 and expected him to earn plenty of playing time in the G League—and he’s making the most of it. In 16 games, covering both the Tip-Off Tournament and the regular season, he has averaged 17.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. In his nine regular-season matchups, those numbers climb to 20.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, showing clear growth.

With the Lakers on a four-game road trip, they initially sent Bronny back to South Bay, a logical move given the team had three games scheduled. But in a surprise decision, they recalled him before Thursday’s matchup against the Bucks. That means he’ll miss South Bay’s game against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and possibly their rematch on Saturday.

His NBA minutes may be scarce, but his time in the G League proves he’s trending in the right direction. Development takes time, and while critics may be quick to judge, Bronny is focused on the grind. His best basketball is still ahead of him, and if his G League performances are any indication, it won’t be long before he makes a real impact.