Apr 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) warms up prior to the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

LeBron James' Ex-Teammate Makes Strong Bronny James Statement

Originally posted on Chicago Bulls on SI
By Logan Struck | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 12:02 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers caught plenty of flak after drafting Bronny James 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, pairing LeBron James with his son, but the young guard was undoubtedly worth a late second-round pick, regardless of his name.

Bronny has shown plenty of promise as a defensive-minded guard with playmaking and shot-creating abilities, and is trying to display his skill in the Summer League. In his last outing in Las Vegas, Bronny dropped 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists on 6-10 shooting from the field, and received plenty of praise for his improved performance.

Bronny James showed out in tonight's #NBA2KSummerLeague action

17 PTS
5 REB
5 AST
3 3PM
6-10 FGM pic.twitter.com/rfZ9FDTplA
— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2025

LeBron James' former Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade, who ultimately left South Beach to join the Chicago Bulls for a short stint, had strong praise for Bronny.

"Bronny, cold. I watch his movement. It's not saying he gonna be a 30-point-a-game scorer in the league, but bro, the kid can hoop. His bag is tough, dog. He got it all," Wade said.

Bronny James Breaking Out, Cooper Flagg Real Deal, Angel Reese Going Off, & Jazz Rookies Shining! New episode out now. Don’t miss it. https://t.co/SOeGC2fH0C pic.twitter.com/V0crAI9V11
— Wy Network by Dwyane Wade (@wynetwork) July 15, 2025

Wade is an NBA legend and Hall of Famer, so giving some high praise to the young Lakers guard should not be swept under the rug. Many fans and media personnel are quick to discredit Bronny because of the assumption that he is only in this position because of his dad, but he continues to receive praise from former NBA stars, such as Dwyane Wade.

Bronny had an underwhelming rookie campaign with limited opportunity, averaging just 2.3 points in 6.7 minutes per game, but has some higher expectations heading into his sophomore year.

This article first appeared on Chicago Bulls on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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