Bronny James\u2019 rookie season didn\u2019t light up the stat sheet, but former NBA veteran Matt Barnes believes the young guard\u2019s story is far from finished.<\/p>\n
In fact, he thinks LeBron\u2019s son could grow into a major piece of the league\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
Barnes broke down the unique pressures James faces as the 55th overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Bronny\u2026 Bronny is tough from a standpoint of he is always going to be compared to his day. Obviously, LeBron\u2019s son is both a gift and a curse,\u201d Barnes said on BigBoyTV<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite averaging only 2.3 points on 31.3 percent shooting in limited minutes with the Lakers, Barnes said he sees real potential if Bronny is given time to develop.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Bronny is going to be a very solid player in this league,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cWill he be a superstar like his dad? Probably not. But, I wouldn\u2019t doubt that he has a chance to be an All-Star or Sixth Man of the Year. He is a very smart, talented player, who plays basketball the right way. He is someone that I think he could have used another year or two in college.\u201d<\/p>\n The 6-foot-2 guard showed flashes of defensive effort and smart decision-making, but the transition from college prospect to NBA rotation piece proved to be a massive leap.<\/p>\n Barnes added that a longer college stint could have provided the space for Bronny to \u201ccontinue sharpening his overall game and grow into a leader without the overwhelming shadow of constant \u2018King\u2019s son scrutiny.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The upcoming season now looms as a pivotal one. Bronny has already logged valuable experience in both the NBA and G League.<\/p>\n With the right development path, Barnes believes the young guard can eventually silence the doubters and carve out his own identity.<\/p>\n