
Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Quincy Olivari recently spoke about Bronny James and the immense expectations surrounding him as the son of NBA legend LeBron James. Olivari, 23, who had a starring role with the South Bay Lakers, reflected on Bronny’s growth and the challenges of living in his father’s shadow.
During his time in the G-League, Olivari averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game, standing out as one of the team’s key contributors alongside Bronny. Speaking to NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Olivari shared his perspective on the pressure Bronny faces.
“People wanted Bronny to be his father right off the rip, and that’s not a fair comparison for anybody, you know,” Olivari said. “Bronny is his own person, and he’s learning and wants to learn and be better, and he’s going to continue to learn. He’s going to have his growing moments the same way I did when I was 19-20 in college.”
Bronny, the Lakers’ No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has appeared in 10 games this season, averaging 0.4 points in 2.3 minutes per game. Despite his limited role, Olivari praised his dedication and efforts to grow as a player.
“It just happens that he’s the son of the greatest basketball player ever to play, and people are holding him to a standard that he didn’t… like, he’s not his father. He’s his own person, and he continues to work hard and is the best version of himself,” Olivari continued.
Olivari emphasized Bronny’s commitment to improving both on and off the court. The former Xavier standout believes the rookie will thrive with time and the support of his teammates.
“As he continues to grow around the people on the team, whether it’s South Bay [Lakers] or the Los Angeles Lakers, he’ll eventually hit that stride, and we’ll see that he is his own player. Not his father,” Olivari added.
Olivari was waived by the Lakers last week after seeing limited action in the NBA, appearing in just two games and averaging 1.5 points. However, his experience with the South Bay Lakers gave him an inside look at Bronny’s development.