“This young man is not just the first; he’s likely the most significant influencer in basketball today tied to one of the most storied franchises in NBA history.” Through the remark, Rich Paul put out a unique perspective in regards to Bronny James. Selected as the 55 overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers, the 20-year-old’s presence during the preseason alongside LeBron James made them the first-ever father-son duo to play together. Several people, like Paul himself, may now want to take this partnership all the way to the regular season. However, one group of analysts may choose to adopt the ‘influencer’ part, just not ‘basketball player.’

In the recent segment of The Kevin O’Connor Show, the former Utah Jazz General Manager joined NBA reporter Dan Devine to discuss Bronny’s progress till this point. During the conversation, the latter highlighted Tom Habestro’s previous remarks about LeBron and Bronny playing in the regular season together, in which “he said, ‘This could be a circus.’ This is something that he worries about being a distraction, and if he’s playing opening night, I think it can last no longer than just a game.” For Devine, the best thing is to just have the father-son play for a single or few more games, and then have Bronny removed from the main lineup altogether.

O’Connor agreed with his co-host since Bronny still has a lot to learn and accomplish before representing a franchise that has won six championship titles in the last quarter century. Till then, he can adopt one of the roles highlighted by his and LeBron’s sports agent. “He’s only 6 foot 2, he’s not a lockdown defender, he is not a shooter, he’s not a playmaker. He’s the son of LeBron James,” said O’Connor.

“And I’m rooting for Bronny, I think it would be awesome to see Bronny in the NBA for a decade plus long after LeBron’s gone, but he’s nowhere close, okay? And so, I think that it is an influencer thing. I think Rich Paul’s telling the truth, and I hope he develops, I hope the shot starts falling,” O’Connor further added.

Bronny James’s entry into the NBA itself was considered a controversial matter by many. After all, it’s quite rare when a franchise chooses to place their faith on someone who not only had a major health scare the previous year, but also only averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists during his college tenure. While things slightly improved for him during the Las Vegas Summer League, he still only averaged 8.8 points. Now, having played three preseason games and averaging 0.7 points in spite of playing for 11.9 minutes per game, Bronny is not succeeding in making people like Kevin O’Connor and Dan Devine change their minds.

The remarks by the two analysts arrive only a few days after new ESPN reporter Shams Charania revealed that LeBron and Bronny can play together “as soon as opening night” i.e., the October 22 matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. LeBron has openly wished to play alongside his son for the past few years, expressing his personal desire by stating, “I’m going to hold him accountable, and he should hold me accountable when I do things not right.”

Having already fulfilled that wish during the preseason, LeBron’s personal agenda might even extend for the entirety of the regular season. The last few seasons have seen the Lakers fail to make much of a mark. Now, with several changes being made to the franchise, especially the inclusion of JJ Redick, this may not be the best time to use Bronny on the court. The young star playing alongside his father may be influential enough to many, but Rich Paul and LeBron James’s alleged insistence on it may only benefit Bronny in the long run.

Less than a week ago, NBA Senior Writer Baxter Holmes released a report on what lies ahead for LeBron James and Bronny. Providing quotes for the same, Rich Paul remained adamant that the future is bright for the 20-year-old, stating, “He wants to play in the NBA, and he wants to play well within his role.” However, the same belief was not carried by several NBA executives, with them believing that “The expectations for Bronny by the fan base and by LeBron and Rich Paul are not commensurate with the reality of his game.”

No better example can be put out in regard to this case than glancing at the player’s stats. If the past already has been so bleak, one shouldn’t debate so much on what the future can hold. “You’re set up for failure,” said another Eastern Conference scout, who reportedly ‘evaluated Bronny for years’. “It’s like, what’s the expectation here?”

Will Bronny play in the regular season or G-League? Which route would you choose for him? Let us know in the comments down below.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.