Bronny James Lights Up Freshman Season: Gilbert Arenas Reveals Hidden Talents
In a season that’s still unfolding for USC Trojans’ freshman standout, Bronny James, the spotlight has intensified on the 19-year-old guard, drawing comparisons to his NBA legend father, LeBron James. As scouts assess Bronny’s potential for the 2024 NBA draft, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas provides an intriguing perspective, revealing the prodigious talent that caught the attention of none other than LeBron himself.
Arenas shared an illuminating anecdote during his appearance on “Podcast P with Paul George,” recounting the eighth-grade scouting request from LeBron James. At just 13 years old, Bronny displayed a blend of speed, basketball IQ, and passing skills reminiscent of his father at the same age. Remarkably, according to Arenas, Bronny showcased strengths that surpassed his father, excelling in athleticism, shooting, and dribbling.
LeBron, acknowledging Arenas’ assessment, entrusted the former NBA star with Bronny’s training. The training sessions, held at UCLA, included another promising prospect, Skyy Clark. However, Clark’s superiority initially led to Arenas challenging Bronny, resulting in a revelation of the young guard’s exceptional skills and determination.
Arenas vividly recalled the moment, stating, “I was like, ‘Hey, man, stand up for yourself, man.’ The look he gave me, (he) got the ball, bruh, came down, Euro’d with the palm, just palmed it, like a Kawhi (Leonard) palm, boom, boom, and went to the rim. I’m like, ‘Oh, s**t.’ And then (he) ran the crew, 5-0’d all of ’em. I called Bron like, ‘Yeah, you ain’t gotta worry.’”
In a recent episode of his podcast, “Gil’s Arena,” Arenas further delved into Bronny James’ NBA potential, likening his playing style to Boston Celtics star guard Jrue Holiday. Despite the praise, Arenas emphasized that Bronny needs to embrace a more aggressive approach to unlock his full potential, comparing him to a high-performance car that chooses to drive within the speed limit.
“Bronny … he’s a Jrue Holiday, just more athletic,” Arenas stated. “If he turns on his tiger, for sure. He just plays the right way. What happens is, we don’t know what he really is. It’s like, he has the Bugatti engine, but he wants to drive the speed limit. He doesn’t want a ticket. … That’s how he uses his body.”
While the comparison to Jrue Holiday is undoubtedly high praise, it underlines the journey that lies ahead for Bronny James. Through 11 games with USC, the budding star is averaging 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.8 steals per game, showcasing glimpses of his potential but leaving room for growth as he navigates the challenges of his freshman season.
So, he decided to challenge the then-13-year-old, to which he rose to the occasion and then some. It was at that point that Arenas realized that Bronny had a very bright future.
“I was like, ‘Hey, man, stand up for yourself, man,’” Arenas said. “The look he gave me, (he) got the ball, bruh, came down, Euro’d with the palm, just palmed it, like a Kawhi (Leonard) palm, boom, boom, and went to the rim. I’m like, ‘Oh, s**t.’ And then (he) ran the crew, 5-0’d all of ’em. I called Bron like, ‘Yeah, you ain’t gotta worry.’”
“Bronny … he’s a Jrue Holiday, just more athletic,” Arenas said. “If he turns on his tiger, for sure. He just plays the right way. What happens is, we don’t know what he really is.
“It’s like, he has the Bugatti engine, but he wants to drive the speed limit. He doesn’t want a ticket. … That’s how he uses his body.”
