The Los Angeles Lakers made NBA history by drafting Bronny James at 55th overall, reuniting him with his father, LeBron James, for the league’s first-ever father-son duo on the court. While fans relished the sight of them playing side-by-side in a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns, former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins didn’t share the enthusiasm, taking aim at the Lakers’ recent roster decisions. Cousins criticized the team for prioritizing Bronny and failing to make “serious” moves in the offseason to strengthen their championship aspirations.
Cousins pointed out that while other franchises added major talent, the Lakers’ acquisitions were modest, aside from bringing in new head coach JJ Redick after letting go of Darvin Ham. Cousins specifically noted that LA missed opportunities to target impact players like DeMar DeRozan, who ended up with the Kings. Though he praised the Lakers’ 17th pick, Dalton Knecht, for his scoring ability, Cousins suggested that the team’s overall offseason strategy left them underprepared.
Bronny James has faced scrutiny following a shaky preseason performance, averaging just 0.7 points, one rebound, and 0.3 assists over nearly 12 minutes per game. These numbers echo his Summer League struggles, where he averaged seven points, and his college stats at USC, where he posted 4.8 points on 36.6% shooting. Despite these modest numbers, Lakers coach JJ Redick expressed optimism about Bronny’s potential, backing him to grow into a valuable player.
Whether Bronny can silence critics like Cousins remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: all eyes will be on the Lakers this season as they navigate uncharted territory with this historic father-son duo.
