Bronny James’ Los Angeles Lakers debut leaves teammates ‘frustrated’ with ‘visible tensions’ during NBA Summer League

BRONNY James’ NBA Summer League debut has caused tension among his Los Angeles Lakers teammates and left some of them frustrated, The US Sun has learned.

Bronny, 19, made history last month, following his father LeBron, 39, to the City of Angels after being selected 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.

4

4

4

Bronny reportedly signed a four-year, $7.9 million contract with Los Angeles, becoming one half of the NBA’s first active father-son duo — just as his father dreamed.

But the Jameses’ incredible family achievement hasn’t been universally embraced by the Lakers until now, sources told The US Sun.

Inevitably, the 6-foot-2 guard’s Summer League debut in early July generated enormous buzz — so much so that it may have gotten out of hand.

The attention he attracted was “very frustrating” for the players, and his supposed star treatment caused friction among the team, which was 0-5 at the start of the tournament, according to a Lakers source.

“That kind of tension didn’t help the group of players build chemistry,” said the source, who noted that they “have nothing against” Bronny.

“And you could feel there was no unity [between] this group of guys like Bronny was the main guy and the others didn’t think it was right, that he deserved it.”

The US Sun has reached out to the Lakers and Bronny’s agent for comment.

After a few appearances in the California Classic, Bronny packed the Thomas & Mack Center before his first game in Las Vegas against the Houston Rockets on July 12.

Reporters crowded the backstage area for the second round pick’s post-game media availability in scenes similar to last year’s Victor Wembanyama craze.

That’s despite an Atlanta Hawks-Washington Wizards matchup featuring a matchup between Nos. 1 and 2, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, on the heels of the Lakers’ 99-80 loss to Houston.

Bronny’s rough start to Summer League led to an even more intense spotlight.

He averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists, shooting 22.6% from the field and going 0-of-15 from 3 in his first four games before rebounding in the later stages of the tournament.

Along the way, Bronny’s representatives made the guard unavailable for media availability on multiple occasions, which the source labeled as “not cool” with his teammates and other members of the franchise.

“This is not a good look for us,” the source said.

It was practically Bronny On Tour

Bronny’s Summer League teammate

“And in dealing with the attention and treatment of Bronny, a lot of the other young guys who are trying to make the roster for next season haven’t been able to show their best side and show their best game.”

A player who was on the Lakers’ Summer League team confirmed that with “almost everything centered around Bronny,” it was difficult to enjoy playing basketball.

“I mean, he was treated as someone apart, not like all of us, and that’s really annoying because we don’t feel any chemistry in this group of players,” said the player.

Many players fight for their basketball lives in Summer League, trying to impress NBA teams and secure one of the remaining roster spots.

The Lakers player said that given the attention given to Bronny, he didn’t feel he had the opportunity to showcase his potential.

“I ended up getting really frustrated because I was never put in the best situation, I never even put in some plays or game plans because they wanted Bronny to show his skills and shine,” he said.

“If you talk to any other player who was on the California Classic and Summer League roster, most of them will tell you the same thing.

“The tensions were visible and we were all thinking about the end of Summer League to get out of here and focus on the next step in our careers.”

The player suggested that the special treatment given to Bronny and the “tense atmosphere” he created is not necessarily the Lakers rookie’s fault.

He even felt “a little bad” for James Jr. — who overcame cardiac arrest before his freshman year at USC — “since he’s not ready for all of that and he’s not ready for the NBA, in my opinion,” said the player.

Los Angeles ended the Summer League with three straight wins and Bronny performed much better in the last two games.

Still, the whole experience left a bad taste in the disappointed player’s mouth.

“It was pretty much Bronny On Tour,” he said.