USC Basketball: Bronny James Teammate-Turned-NBA Guard Explains How He Handles Pressure
Few players in college basketball face the level of pressure that Bronny James does. As the son of NBA great LeBron James, there was pretty much no way that Bronny would not face high expectations as he began playing college hoops for the USC Trojans.
Now, Bronny is regularly the subject of NBA draft talk and rumors. His play and lack of playing time are constantly scrutinized, even though he's only in his first collegiate season and suffered a cardiac arrest over the summer.
The talk has gone so far, that even LeBron has spoken out in defense of Bronny in a since-deleted tweet that asked people to "let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball."
Despite the talk, Bronny is handling the pressure well, according to one of his former high school teammates and current Memphis Grizzlies guard, Ziaire Williams.
“Bronny has the weight of the world on his shoulders. I don’t know what I would do if I was in his position, with all the attention and just the notoriety ... He’s not even worried about it—or doesn’t even see it, to be honest. He just—he blinds it so well.”
— Ziaire Williams, via Mirin Fader of The Ringer.
It's certainly good that Bronny is able to tune out all the noise. With his father being one of the greatest players in NBA history, it's highly unlikely that Bronny could live up to what LeBron has accomplished. Even with unrealistic expectations, it could be easy for someone like Bronny to fall trapped in the narrative of having to live in his father's shadow.
