"Bronny had bigger clutch gene than LeBron James" - Skip Bayless predicts Bronny James getting major minutes on Lakers in JJ Redick era
While LeBron James' son, Bronny James, has yet to compete in an NBA game, longtime NBA pundit Skip Bayless believes that he's more clutch than his dad. The comments aren't entirely surprising given that Bayless has often been critical of LeBron James over the years, taking aim at the future Hall of Famer on a number of occasions.
Although many predicted that Bayless would now shift his focus to Bronny James, and criticize the second-generation hooper, he seems to be pitting the father-son duo against one another. On Thursday, during his Skip Bayless Show, he weighed in on Bronny's future with the Lakers.
As he explained, he believes that under newly-appointed coach JJ Redick, Bronny James will get some big-time minutes as he looks to develop into a top-tier 3 and D player. In addition, he also notably revealed that he believes Bronny James has a bigger clutch gene than his dad.
"I think Bronny will be pretty good. I think he'll become a clutch three-point shooter. I've always gotten the feeling that Bronny had a bigger clutch gene than his father does. McDonald's game. He was in the spotlight and they went to him late two or three times and he just nailed threes."
In addition, as many fans and analysts are well aware, Bronny had a good showing at the draft combine, where he went 19 for 25, and finished second among all participants.
Looking at the Lakers' plan for Bronny James as young standout prepares for NBA Summer League debut
While there has been plenty of attention on Bronny in recent months, both prior to, and in the wake of the NBA Draft, the Lakers are looking at Bronny as a long-term project.
Following the draft, GM Rob Pelinka spoke to media members, explaining that the team sees a number of reasons to be optimistic about Bronny's future. Namely, Pelinka and the Lakers believe that he can be a top-notch 3 and D player.
As NBA vet CJ McCollum explained recently on Fox Sports 1, Bronny will be a part of the "stay ready" team, meaning that while developing behind the scenes, he will be looking to stay ready for when opportunities to check into regular-season games come his way.
In addition, while speaking to media members during Bronny James and Dalton Knecht's introductory press conference, newly-appointed coach JJ Redick spoke about his plans for Bronny James. As he revealed, the team is looking at Bronny as the first player for their developmental program.
Given that, it seems unlikely that Bronny plays big minutes right off the bat. With the team looking to make a strong playoff push over the next two years, they will likely prioritize players who can help them win now, while LeBron James is under contract.
For Bronny, this will give him time to develop before being thrust into a key role off the Lakers' bench. In the meantime, the young standout will suit up for LA during Summer League, which begins on Jul. 6 with the California Classic.