Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James had the best game of his young career against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, recording 17 points, three rebounds, five assists and a block on the night, impressing even Stephen A. Smith with his performance.
Smith has emerged as one of Bronny’s most vocal critics thanks to some unflattering comments he has made about the son of LeBron James on air over time.
Arguably the most infamous instance of this came on First Take after a game between the Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers when Smith requested LeBron to stop exposing his son by making him play in the NBA.
Smith was adamant that James was not ready to play in the NBA and wanted him to remain in the G League. After this performance, though, he is starting to have some doubts and spoke glowingly of James when asked about his performance against the Bucks on “First Take”.
“I was very impressed because I saw an elevation in his level of confidence and poise,” Smith said, via Awful Announcing. “It was like it didn’t really faze him, he didn’t look as nervous as he had looked in previous appearances on the basketball court. He looked like somebody that belonged.”
Smith commended James for showing off an array of moves and putting on a show. He then admitted he might have been wrong with his previous assessment of the rookie.
Stephen A. Smith on the ESPN NBA Countdown live set at Intuit Dome.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“I might have been wrong,” Smith stated. “Are you listening, LeBron James? Are you listening, James family? Are you listening, Rich Paul? Are you listening, all these people? Because here’s my position: My position was all along, Bronny James needed to be in the G League.
“I’ve always believed that this kid has the potential, once I watched him, to be in the NBA,” Smith continued. “But what I saw last night made me say to myself, ‘Wait a minute.’ He keeps showing up and playing like that … then indeed he’ll be in the league as a bonafide player sooner than later.”
That is quite the U-turn. Smith also reiterated that he had never disrespected Bronny and believes we are going to see more performances like this from the youngster.
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