It is now Bronny James‘ third season in the NBA, yet he has appeared in only 74 regular-season games and has still been unable to secure a consistent place in the Los Angeles Lakers’ rotation. More concerningly, during the 2026-27 campaign, he is averaging less than a point per game and has played fewer than two minutes in three of his five appearances.
That has prompted Kenyon Martin to make a harsh admission about Bronny’s NBA journey. The former NBA forward believes that without LeBron James‘ influence, his son would have struggled to make it into the league in the first place.
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Even if he had, Martin doubts Bronny would have been able to maintain his place on the Lakers’ roster for three seasons with such limited production.
“With Bronny and LeBron, yes, nepotism is real. We all know it, and we all would do it. If we had the opportunity to do it, 1000 percent. If any one of us are able to put our child in a position to succeed and have direct influence on it, we would. No doubt about it,” Martin said. “Do I think Bronny at the time was ready for the NBA? No. Because of his lack of college experience that he had. It was interrupted because of the heart thing.”
Kenyon Knows It’s Tough Being Bronny
As much as Bronny has been scrutinized throughout his NBA career, Martin also recognizes that other players from the 2024 draft class, including Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick, have faced far less attention despite struggling to establish themselves with their respective teams.
Martin believes that Bronny is often singled out because of his famous last name, making the level of criticism directed at the young guard unfair. He acknowledged that the expectations surrounding James Jr. are unlike those faced by most players drafted in his position, while expressing hope that Bronny eventually gets the opportunity to prove himself on the court.
“Without all the pressures and scrutiny of everything that came with being the 55th pick in the NBA draft, which no other 55th pick has those kinds of expectations. We get it,” Martin added. “His last name is James, but it’s unfair to the kid.”
Clearly, Martin wants Bronny to succeed and believes he deserves a fair opportunity to establish himself without constantly having to deal with the added scrutiny that comes with being LeBron James’ son. While he acknowledged that his father’s influence played a significant role in getting him to the NBA, Martin also hopes the 22-year-old can eventually silence his critics through his performances.
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