Kiyan Anthony recently addressed the intense public criticism surrounding Bronny James during his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers, expressing sympathy for the 20-year-old guard’s situation.
In a conversation on 7PM in Brooklyn, presented by Wave Original, Anthony acknowledged how the spotlight placed on LeBron James’ son amplified the scrutiny he faced on and off the court.
“So Bronny, I kind of felt bad for him, my guy,” Anthony said. “He not going to go on the internet and say what he got to say but deep down behind closed doors, he probably was going through it.”
Bronny James, selected No. 55 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, appeared in 27 games for the Lakers, averaging just 2.3 points in 6.7 minutes per game. He shot 31.3% from the field and 28.1% from three.
He also saw limited postseason action, logging two appearances in the 2025 NBA Playoffs with no points recorded.
While his NBA minutes were scarce, James put up strong numbers in the G League with the South Bay Lakers, where he averaged 18.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 18 games.
Still, the online criticism rarely relented. Anthony pointed to the challenges of being constantly under the microscope.
“You can’t even scroll twice without seeing a post with your name on it,” Anthony said.
The son of NBA legend Carmelo Anthony also dismissed the notion that Bronny’s path to the league was handed to him.
“People trying to say he’s not good or he just there for his pops, I think he’s really nice and I think he really has a chance to prosper in the NBA.”
Despite missing out on a McDonald’s All-American selection earlier in his high school career, Anthony has used similar setbacks as fuel, suggesting he understands the emotional weight of public perception.
