Unlike LeBron James, whose future was uncertain during his childhood, Bronny James was born to play basketball. “I feel like the path was already chosen,” the 20-year-old guard said in 2023. However, Bronny’s rookie season with the Lakers was not up to the mark. “He didn’t play well… I have confidence but obviously didn’t provide that at a high level,” JJ Redick said this Wednesday. Facing backlash for sending Bronny to the G League, the Lakers opted to bring him back. But constant call-ups and send-downs have done little to benefit either Bronny or the franchise—only fueling more criticism. And Tuesday’s game against the Sixers was no different. Despite getting more minutes on the hardwood, Bronny returned with no points. But this time the blame didn’t fall on him, instead, it was directed at three other people.

Even without their star, Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers not only held back the Purple and Gold but beat them 118-104. Losing to an eleventh-seeded Eastern Conference team naturally put the Lakers under scrutiny. And the first thing that caught attention was Bronny James’ 15-minute performance, during which he added zero points, three rebounds, and an assist. When discussing the same on Fox Sports Radio’s The Odd Couple, host Kelvin Washington held LeBron James, head coach JJ Redick, and GM Rob Pelinka responsible for the disaster.

“My issue, believe it or not, is not with Bronny. My issue is with JJ Redick, LeBron, and Rob Pelinka,” Kelvin said. “Why are you even putting him in this situation? The whole point was to, what, play with my son. It didn’t have to be, ‘I want to play with him every game’ or ‘every home game’ or, you know, ‘I want to have X amount of minutes.'”

LeBron expressed last season that he wanted to share the court with Bronny before he retired, which led to speculations that the Lakers drafted Bronny to keep the 4-time champion with them. The duo made history on opening night this season, becoming the only father and son to play together in the league. That was a moment everyone appreciated. However, when the Lakers sent Bronny to South Bay, where he was showing improvement by dropping 31 points in his last game there, bringing him back and playing him against the top performers in the NBA against whom he doesn’t stand a chance would ultimately have an impact on his confidence.

“His confidence go like the demon drop at Cedar Point,” Kelvin said, referencing the free-fall ride in Sandusky, Ohio. “That’s his confidence when I got to go up against Tyrese Maxey, who’s one of the top, what, 15 players in the NBA, going at me, and again, just the other night, I’m killing these guys in the G-League.” He further asked, “JJ, Rob Pelinka, LeBron, why are y’all even letting this be an option?” And advised, “Let him continue to grow, get his bumps, his bruises, play well.”

Kelvin wasn’t the only one to feel that way. Even one of the NBA’s more critical analysts puts the blame on LeBron for the decision regarding Bronny, and he also received support from the national media.

Stephen A. Smith blames LeBron and Lakers after Bronny James’ struggles and receives support from national media

Right after the game ended, Stephen A. Smith took his host’s seat on First Take and recalled LeBron and Bronny’s first game, describing it as “an absolutely positively wonderful story.” But that was it, the dream was fulfilled, and then reality settled in, he believed.

“We love what we’re seeing from him in the G League because that’s where you belong.” Stephen A. added that Bronny needs to polish his skills there and make the most of his potential. For now, the veteran journalist had one request, “I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father: stop this. Stop this.”

Colin Cowherd on The Herd also shared a similar view. “Bronny had his best game as a G-Leaguer, so of course, let’s rush him to the Lakers. He got on the floor last night. You can’t fool the players, Tyrese Maxi went right after him and cooked him.” He then boldly added, “There’s a way to measure success in the NBA; you have to pretend that Bronny’s an NBA player, because otherwise, you’ll upset the King.”

Another take came from analyst Doug Gottlieb, who believed Bronny was improving his game in the G League, but bringing him into the NBA was still a lot to ask. “He pops up on screen and you’re watching him, and he looks like a kid who somebody decided, let’s put a regular, normal basketball player out there with NBA players,” he said on the Doug Gottlieb Show. “He looked overwhelmed.”

Just when Bronny looked much better with South Bay, his call-up to the Lakers seemed too soon. So far, in 13 appearances, he has managed only four points. Perhaps they should have taken more time to let him grow there first. Again, after so much criticism, how the Lakers deal with Bronny will be something to watch in the coming games.