"All LeBron had to do was be Melo" - Stephen A. Smith points finger at LeBron James for backlash Bronny James faces over his NBA spot 

LeBron James has finally fulfilled his dream of playing with his son Bronny James in the NBA. However, because of LeBron's influence on how Bronny got into the league, people are criticizing the young James for lacking the skills his father had when he was his age.

Prominent sports analyst Stephen A. Smith explained Tuesday on "The Stephen A. Smith Show" why people dislike Bronny's road to the NBA. Smith feels like LeBron should've stayed out of the picture and allowed his son to grow and make a name for himself:

"Bronny James, I'm routing for him," Smith said. "He has done nothing wrong. LeBron James... He did nothing intentionally wrong. But he publicly stated that he wanted to play with his son in the NBA, and then publicly made it happen. As a result, the criticism that has come Bronny's way has been excessive... All LeBron had to do was be Melo."

(from 9:00 mark onwards)

Stephen A. Smith compared LeBron James' parenting to his close friend Carmelo Anthony. While LeBron did everything he could to give the life he wanted for Bronny, "Melo" allowed his son Kiyan Anthony to do his own thing.

Smith pointed out how Anthony allowed his son to grow as a player and find his own star on the hardwood. Had James done something similar to Bronny, the analyst feels the young James wouldn't be taking as much criticism as he's getting today.

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Bronny James' road to NBA feels rushed

NBA: Toronto Raptors at Los Angeles Lakers - Source: Imagn

After many years of anticipation, Bronny James is finally playing next to his father with the LA Lakers. Bronny is currently a rookie in the NBA and is playing for both the main roster and the Lakers' G League counterpart, the South Bay Lakers.

While Bronny's entry to the league is another huge milestone for the James family, not everyone is a fan of his arrival. Many believe that the trajectory of his career felt rushed and that he should've remained in college to further develop his game before going pro.

True enough, looking at his numbers before entering the 2024 NBA draft, Bronny didn't exactly have impressive numbers. In his only season with the USC Trojans, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the 25 NCAA games he played. He arguably wasn't ready to go pro and yet he entered the draft and subsequently got a spot on the Lakers' roster.

Now playing for both the NBA and G League, Bronny James is proving critics right when they called him out for not being ready yet. Playing for the South Bay Lakers, Bronny is averaging 5.0 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 rpg and 1.5 spg.

LA Lakers head coach JJ Redick said that sending the young James to the G League should serve as his platform to showcase his true capabilities and develop those skillsets further.

However, based on how James has performed so far, it seems like a huge mess for now. Fortunately for him, he has an entire career ahead of him. While his rookie season perhaps won't be as memorable, he has plenty of time to develop his game and bud into the star his father wants him to be.