Stephen A. Smith, known for his blunt opinions, has begun to soften his stance on Bronny James‘ readiness for the NBA. After the young player’s standout performance, the son of the Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, Smith acknowledged on First Take that he may have underestimated Bronny.
This shift in perspective comes just two weeks after Smith insisted that Bronny should start his professional career in the G League to develop properly. However, Bronny’s recent performance against the Milwaukee Bucks, where he reached career highs in points and assists, has forced Smith to reconsider his assessment.
Bronny’s performance against the Bucks marked a turning point. Despite the Lakers’ loss, Bronny shined with 17 points and five assists in 30 minutes, showcasing notable improvement in his game.
“I was very impressed,” Smith said. “I saw an elevation in his level of confidence and poise. It was like it didn’t really faze him. He didn’t look as nervous as he had in previous appearances. He looked like somebody that belonged. … There were some moves that he put out on the court — ball-handling skills, getting to the basket, finishing at the basket, pulling up for jumpers, hitting a three, 17 points, seven-of-10 shooting from the field — I was impressed.”
He added: “If that kind of stuff continues, then indeed he’ll be in the league as a bona fide player sooner than later. One game doesn’t make that determination. You need to do more than that. But I wanted to make sure I emphasized that point.”
Bronny James #9 stands by LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Smith’s evolution on Bronny
Smith’s change of heart comes after a tense encounter with LeBron James during a Lakers-Knicks game. Smith revealed that LeBron confronted him about his comments on Bronny, urging him to “be careful what you say about my son.” Smith, however, reiterated that he never intended to disrespect Bronny.
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“But I did believe that he belonged in the G League to get himself honed for the NBA level,” Smith said. “What may have been wrong about that is that evidently being around JJ Redick and that staff, and being around Pops and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers — combined with the G League, going back and forth — may be doing wonders for him sooner than we anticipated. Because I liked what I saw last night.”
Smith reiterates his stance on criticism
Smith also clarified his stance on evaluating Bronny’s performance, stating that he will continue to provide honest assessments. “And I’m gonna keep the same energy. When he plays well, we’re gonna give him props. When he doesn’t play well, we’re going to say so. That’s what happens with covering the league. Maybe his Pops didn’t tell him that, but I’m gonna tell him that. Congrats on a good performance last night. I hope it continues. I believe it will.”
