Former NBA player Kwame Brown provided a critical assessment of Bronny James’ performance during his preseason debut. Brown expressed concerns about James’ decision-making on the court, suggesting that if he were not LeBron James’ son, he would have faced consequences.

In the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bronny James played 16 minutes, scoring just two points on 1-of-6 shooting. He added one rebound, one assist, and three blocks, but Brown felt his overall impact was lacking.

“Bronny’s performance last night was horrendous,” Brown stated. He questioned why, with LeBron as his father, Bronny struggled to grasp basic basketball principles.

Brown noted that opposing defenses were exploiting Bronny’s weaknesses. He explained that when Bronny comes off pick-and-roll plays, defenders are dropping back into the paint, indicating a lack of respect for his shooting ability.

He emphasized that in such situations, Bronny should attack the basket aggressively. “If they drop and plug, he should keep coming downhill,” Brown advised. He stressed the importance of taking advantage of defensive strategies rather than hesitating on the perimeter.

Further critiquing Bronny’s play, Brown noted that Bronny’s positioning often clogs the lane, making it challenging for teammates to create opportunities. “He’s standing at the top of the key or two feet from the three-point line, and nobody’s respecting his three-point shot,” Brown added. This allows defenders to sag off and recover quickly.

Brown expressed confusion about how Bronny, raised in a basketball household, missed these fundamental concepts. He stated, “These are just simple concepts,” arguing that the young player needs to apply his athleticism more effectively.

He also questioned Bronny’s defensive capabilities, stating that he stood straight up and was easily beaten off the dribble. “You can blow by him going left every time,” Brown remarked. This raises concerns about James’ ability to contribute defensively.

He urged Bronny to run the floor for layups instead of settling for three-point attempts. “We don’t need you trotting to the three-point line,” Brown explained. “We need you running for layups and using that athleticism.” He added that Bronny should capitalize on opportunities to get closer to the basket.

According to Brown, Bronny must learn to put pressure on defenses rather than coasting through games. “If a guy is being doubled off of you, he needs to be a backdoor cut and let a guy feel behind,” Brown emphasized. He stressed that young players should embrace their athleticism and use it to create opportunities for themselves and their teammates.

“He’s not a very good shooter yet that he can shoot yet. He sucks. Well, he would have a better go at it go at it if he just do those two things – run the floor for layups, get into the heart of the defense when they dropping plug on you. A guard should love when they drop plug,” Brown continued.

Brown reiterated that he is not attacking Bronny personally but believes honest critiques are essential for a professional athlete. “These commentators are not going to talk basketball talk,” he remarked.

Critiquing Bronny’s overall rhythm, Brown stated, “He don’t have an offensive rhythm right now so, sh*t, be young. Nobody can control you being able to run. But I see a kid just coasting because he has a guaranteed contract. Anybody else in that position would be cut.

“Somebody going underneath if you ain’t a knockdown shooter, you got to put pressure on the defense on that big in order to get that float off. And if you don’t do that, what we doing?” He called for Bronny to embrace his strengths as a young player and push the pace.

In closing, Brown underscored the need for accountability in assessing Bronny’s game. “I can critique his game without bashing him,” he clarified. The former No. 1 draft pick emphasized that constructive criticism is essential for growth.