2023-24 NBA Thread

[4everwarriors]

Of all the dozen issues the Lakers have, drafting Bronny and signing him to a guaranteed contract ranks about 13th. If that's what they are not happy with, it is misdirected anger.

I mean, signing Thannasis is a complete waste of a roster sport, but I understand why the Bucks do it.

Yeah, every playa should have their personal bellhop, aina?

[wadesworld]

I hope people are able to separate Bronny the person from this situation. By all accounts, he's a really good kid and he knows he got this opportunity because of his dad. And he's going to work his ass off daily to try to capitalize it and turn it into a long NBA career. He's not just riding coattails.

If he sticks in the league for 10-15 years as a backup PG it'll be because he's a contributor and I hope people can find it in themselves to be happy for him.

Well, I mean, he is just riding his father's coattails.  Which is fine, but people acting like that's not what's happening are just insulting other peoples' intelligence.  If Bronny James was not LeBron James's son, he would not be in the NBA.  That's just reality.

Could he develop into a true NBA player over the next couple of years?  It's possible.  But he isn't right now.

[WhiteTrash]

I hope people are able to separate Bronny the person from this situation. By all accounts, he's a really good kid and he knows he got this opportunity because of his dad. And he's going to work his ass off daily to try to capitalize it and turn it into a long NBA career. He's not just riding coattails.

If he sticks in the league for 10-15 years as a backup PG it'll be because he's a contributor and I hope people can find it in themselves to be happy for him.

I don't follow all the traffic on the internet concerning Bronny. What I have heard and read in the media reflects your observation. Great young man and a hard worker. I haven't seen or heard personal attacks. I agree with you and hope it stay that way.

Face it, if LeBron left the Lakers because Bronny wasn't there, the team would get 100X more criticism than they are now for taking Bronny. I think you could fairly argue he could have been signed as an undrafted FA and preserved a draft choice, but that's a minor sticking point. I think the Lakers did fine with this.

[Pakuni]

Well, I mean, he is just riding his father's coattails.  Which is fine, but people acting like that's not what's happening are just insulting other peoples' intelligence.  If Bronny James was not LeBron James's son, he would not be in the NBA.  That's just reality.

I confess to having not read every bit of Bronny discourse online, but who out there is legitimately arguing that Bronny being selected by the Lakers was not because of his dad?

[Shaka Shart]

I confess to having not read every bit of Bronny discourse online, but who out there is legitimately arguing that Bronny being selected by the Lakers was not because of his dad?

https://x.com/killakow/status/1138292190101364737?s=46&t=G2FhP_F2kWewaBOpvRv5lg

[WhiteTrash]

I confess to having not read every bit of Bronny discourse online, but who out there is legitimately arguing that Bronny being selected by the Lakers was not because of his dad?

Well the Lakers brass and Bronny's agent and some of LeBron's friends in the media have tried to argue he was worthy of being drafted. Those people don't really have a choice in the matter. 

[wadesworld]

I confess to having not read every bit of Bronny discourse online, but who out there is legitimately arguing that Bronny being selected by the Lakers was not because of his dad?

The post I quoted said about Bronny, "He's not just riding coattails."  I'm sure Bronny is a great kid, I'm sure he does work his ass off.  Those things don't make one an NBA player.  Bronny is the definition of "riding someone's coattails."  Which again, is fine!  I'm perfectly fine with the Bucks keeping Thenasis on the roster to keep little bro happy.  It's business.  And maybe in the future Bronny proves to be more than that.  But, no matter how hard he works or how good of a kid he is, he's in the NBA only by riding his father's coattails.

[Lennys Tap]

I don't follow all the traffic on the internet concerning Bronny. What I have heard and read in the media reflects your observation. Great young man and a hard worker. I haven't seen or heard personal attacks. I agree with you and hope it stay that way.

Face it, if LeBron left the Lakers because Bronny wasn't there, the team would get 100X more criticism than they are now for taking Bronny. I think you could fairly argue he could have been signed as an undrafted FA and preserved a draft choice, but that's a minor sticking point. I think the Lakers did fine with this.

I watched an interview on the Today Show with LeBron. He said the greatest accomplishment of his career would be to play with his son. I don't think "accomplishment" was the right word - maybe thrill, satisfaction or something else would have been more accurate. The point, though, is that he's very proud of his son and playing with him is REALLY important to LeBron. I think that's a good thing.

[BM1090]

Well, I mean, he is just riding his father's coattails.  Which is fine, but people acting like that's not what's happening are just insulting other peoples' intelligence.  If Bronny James was not LeBron James's son, he would not be in the NBA.  That's just reality.

Could he develop into a true NBA player over the next couple of years?  It's possible.  But he isn't right now.

What I'm saying is that his dad got him in the door, but if he sticks it'll be because he deserves it. Obviously he would not have been drafted if it weren't for his dad, but that has nothing to do with what I said. In the initial post I said he's in the NBA because of his dad but IF he sticks, he's not just riding coattails at that point.

[lawdog77]

What I'm saying is that his dad got him in the door, but if he sticks it'll be because he deserves it. Obviously he would not have been drafted if it weren't for his dad, but that has nothing to do with what I said. In the initial post I said he's in the NBA because of his dad but IF he sticks, he's not just riding coattails at that point.

Depends if his dad becomes GM, and signs Bronny.

[MU82]

I watched an interview on the Today Show with LeBron. He said the greatest accomplishment of his career would be to play with his son. I don't think "accomplishment" was the right word - maybe thrill, satisfaction or something else would have been more accurate. The point, though, is that he's very proud of his son and playing with him is REALLY important to LeBron. I think that's a good thing.

Outstanding post.

[WhiteTrash]

I watched an interview on the Today Show with LeBron. He said the greatest accomplishment of his career would be to play with his son. I don't think "accomplishment" was the right word - maybe thrill, satisfaction or something else would have been more accurate. The point, though, is that he's very proud of his son and playing with him is REALLY important to LeBron. I think that's a good thing.

And for some parents it is REALLY important that their children attend the same college or work at the same company as them. That is a good thing too?

[The Sultan]

And for some parents it is REALLY important that their children attend the same college or work at the same company as them. That is a good thing too?

Maybe...maybe not.

Why are you so fired up about this? In the end, it's pretty meaningless.

[WhiteTrash]

Maybe...maybe not.

Why are you so fired up about this? In the end, it's pretty meaningless.

So it may not be a good thing for Bronny to get to play with his dad?

I say good from the James family. I don't know why you think it might not be a good thing.

But, as you accurately state, in the end it's pretty meaningless.

[The Sultan]

So it may not be a good thing for Bronny to get to play with his dad?

I was answering your other hypothetical. Not addressing Bronny at all.

[Uncle Rico]

Maybe...maybe not.

Why are you so fired up about this? In the end, it's pretty meaningless.

He doesn't care about Bronny or Lebron.  Just ask him

[The Lens]

Bronny was a 5 star recruit.  Scouts rave that he plays the right way, is unselfish, etc.

He's not going to embarass himself on a NBA court and it's not inconceivable that other teams would take a flyer on a former 5 star at 55.

[lawdog77]

Bronny was a 5 star recruit.  Scouts rave that he plays the right way, is unselfish, etc.

He's not going to embarass himself on a NBA court and it's not inconceivable that other teams would take a flyer on a former 5 star at 55.

Adonis Arms (best name in basketball) begs to differ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkGkZ-zF4yo

[The Sultan]

Adonis Arms (best name in basketball) begs to differ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkGkZ-zF4yo

We seriously going to do this on a summer league game?

[lawdog77]

We seriously going to do this on a summer league game?

Yes. He embarassed himself the first game. Will he improve? Yes. Will he improve enough to get minutes on his own? who knows?

[JWags85]

Bronny was a 5 star recruit.  Scouts rave that he plays the right way, is unselfish, etc.

He's not going to embarass himself on a NBA court and it's not inconceivable that other teams would take a flyer on a former 5 star at 55.

He really wasn't.  He was a 40-50 range player before getting buzzed up by ESPN and what not and he didn't even end up in the top 25.  He wouldn't have been a McDs AA if his name was Brian Johnson.

He was basically right about where Vander was in the recruit rankings and freshman year production.  Nobody would have been taking a flier on Vander cause his recruit ranking.

Again, its not that big of a deal, its cool for Lebron and a nice story, but we don't need to be making up nonsense justification narratives to make this something its not.

[Pakuni]

We seriously going to do this on a summer league game?

Derrick Rose scored only 10 points while committing 5 turnovers in his Summer League debut. His first shot was an air ball. He would go on to average 9.5 ppg in the Summer League that year.
In that same game, #2 pick Michael Beasley scored 28 points and added 9 boards in 23 minutes. And yeah, people were already questioning the Bulls' decision to take Rose over Beasley.

Just goes to show how important these games are.

[The Sultan]

Yes. He embarassed himself the first game. Will he improve? Yes. Will he improve enough to get minutes on his own? who knows?

He didn't "embarrass" himself - I don't think you *can* embarrass yourself in an NBA summer league game unless your shorts fall down. Anyway, my guess is that he is no different than dozens of other NBA rookies who don't figure things out right away.

Look, I don't think he's that good, but spending eight minutes on a second round pick's summer league game is a bit much.

[lawdog77]

Derrick Rose scored only 10 points while committing 5 turnovers in his Summer League debut. His first shot was an air ball. He would go on to average 9.5 ppg in the Summer League that year.
In that same game, #2 pick Michael Beasley scored 28 points and added 9 boards in 23 minutes. And yeah, people were already questioning the Bulls' decision to take Rose over Beasley.

Just goes to show how important these games are.

Derrick Rose only played 2 summer league games.He showed enough in those two games in driving to the hoop and running the offense to not need to play anymore. The games aren't important for 1st rounders.

[lawdog77]

He didn't "embarrass" himself - I don't think you *can* embarrass yourself in an NBA summer league game unless your shorts fall down. Anyway, my guess is that he is no different than dozens of other NBA rookies who don't figure things out right away.

Look, I don't think he's that good, but spending eight minutes on a second round pick's summer league game is a bit much.

How about falling down trying to guard a guy?