LeBron James started his basketball career at St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron. Within days of his time there, James had become a star. His ball control and ability to pass the ball stood out amidst his peers. His teammates were also stunned by his impeccable Basketball IQ as well. Those around him quickly realized that LeBron James was a generational talent and there could never be anyone else like him. But now, his former teammates might have a different opinion.
At St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, James played with the likes of Willie McGee, Romeo Travis, and Brandon Weems. Willie McGee is now a part of the LeBron James Family Foundation whilst Travis is SVSM’s assistant coach. Brandon Weems is Cleveland Cavaliers’ assistant general manager. These individuals have seen James grow into the legend he is today. With that said, they have also seen the growth and ongoing development of James’ son Bronny James.
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Bronny James, the LeBron James clone
In a recent interview, Willie McGee recollected the first time he was in awe of LeBron James. It was during their first year as teammates. There was a six-year-old who had joined them, a boy who had never made a basket all year. But this changed after the six-year-old played with James on the court.
James dribbled and passed the ball across to the kid. The pass was so smooth that it left McGee gawking. The kid went on to score and make his first basket that year. McGee said, “It was like, Man, only LeBron could make that pass.”
Very early on, the four-time NBA Champion had made it clear that his ability to pass the ball would not only help his team but also help the confidence and game of his teammates. His other teammate, Romeo Travis stated that no one could ever recreate a LeBron James pass. However, there was an exception. The exception was until, to put in the words of Tarvis, “he made his own clone.”
The four-time MVP’s prototype is his own son Bronny James, according to the Lakers’ superstar’s former teammates. Bronny currently plays as a senior at Sierra Canyon School.
The gift of the James
In the interview, Brandon Weems compared the games of Bronny James and LeBron James. He pointed out that Bronny was the better shooter while LeBron had better control of the ball.
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However, the similarity between the two is their basketball IQ. He said, “He[Bronny] sees things that other players may not see, and that’s a gift LeBron had”.
It is safe to say that Bronny has left his father’s former teammates impressed with his gameplay. While they acknowledge the pressure Bronny faces, they believe that he if wants to, he will make his own path and be the person he wants to be. This is something even his father wants his son to focus on.
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Do you think Bronny James will turn out to be a phenomenon like his father? Let us know in the comments below.