LeBron James is a doting, loving, and supportive father to his three children. There’s no two ways about that! While that is well and good, he is also a globally renowned figure and an NBA legend. Whether he or his family wants it, they are always under the scrutiny of eagle eyes. When that happens, acts or comments that any concerned parent would do or say when they see their kid struggle become something of a mistake with Bron.

It seems that is what Bronny James is going through now. From ‘Who’s your Daddy’ chants during games to nepotism, comments and allegations against the 19-year-old are endless. But he did manage to set the record straight, to an extent, during his first-ever NBA interview at the combine. “My dream has always been to put my name out, make a name for myself … I never thought about playing with my dad but of course, he’s brought it up a couple of times … But no, I’ve never thought much about it.”

Even so, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith can’t help but point out that all the hate and unnecessary attention that James’ firstborn is facing now is the courtesy of his father. “That is not of his (Bronny) doing… it extends to LeBron James opening his mouth the way that he did and putting his son albeit unintentionally putting his son in a very-very difficult position”.

Joining The Stephen A. Smith Show, was the 4x champion’s former teammate, Kendrick Perkins. And he agrees, too! “I say it’s all his fault,” Perk assented to Stephen A.’s above statement. The former NBA champion further brings attention to how Bronny’s McDonald’s All-American game only served to draw more hate his way.

“You’re not going to average 14 points and make the Mickey D’s game. I’m sorry, but that’s just the honest truth,” Perk explained. A 2003 McDonald player himself, the 6’10 center averaged 27.5 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 7.8 blocks from Clifton J. Ozen High School.

In contrast, Bronny had an average of 4.8 points and 2.1 assists per game while shooting just 26.7 percent from three. Yet, like many, the Beaumont Panthers owner believes Bronny James can have a brilliant professional career, eventually. But as the Big Perk said, LeBron James has to “fall back”. And he has a perfect example.

Big Perk draws the attention of LeBron James to a fellow basketball dad and former Heat teammate

“He let things play out the way that they were supposed to play out.” Perkins was describing none other than Dwyane Wade. The father of a 22-year-old son wanting to follow in his NBA dad’s footsteps, the 3x champion did not interfere with Zaire Wade’s organic development. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in 2020, the father of five revealed how he helped his oldest son.

“I’m in the passenger’s seat, but I’m definitely not in the backseat. He’s in the driver’s seat,” Wade said about his involvement. He further detailed that if basketball was indeed Zaire’s ultimate goal, then he was intent on helping the youngster understand there’s no one way to go about it. The 6’1 guard might not have as many eyes as Bronny James, but he certainly has enough to make his life difficult.

After all, he does carry the Heat legend, Dwyane Wade’s last name. Nonetheless, the 13x All-Star admitted it wasn’t always easy to simply get in there and make the path easy for his son. “I think I probably have more self-talk than LeBron,” he recalled as a way to keep calm as his kid tried to excel through the ranks.

Well, the tendency to become a protective shield when it comes to one’s children is definitely universal. But real growth happens when the kids create their own future and choose their path while making many mistakes too.

Maybe it is something LeBron James is learning the hard way.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.