Sat Nov 30 05:23:11 UTC 2024: ## Barkley Slams Lakers’ Handling of Bronny James: “Awful” and “Bad Look”
**LOS ANGELES, CA** – Charles Barkley has unleashed a scathing critique of the Los Angeles Lakers’ management of Bronny James, calling their approach “awful” and a “bad look” for the organization and LeBron James himself. Barkley’s comments, made on “The Bettor Angle” over the weekend, center on the Lakers’ unconventional plan for the rookie.
Bronny, drafted after a single season at USC, is splitting time between the Lakers and their NBA G-League affiliate, South Bay. He plays home games with the Lakers, then rejoins South Bay for road games. This strategy, according to Barkley, is detrimental to Bronny’s development and unfair to both the player and the South Bay coaching staff.
“The kid is not ready to play in the NBA. He should be in the G-League so he can play basketball,” Barkley stated. He further criticized the home-game-only arrangement, calling it “stupid” and highlighting the logistical challenges it poses for South Bay’s coaching staff. “You come off a road trip and you have a player you haven’t seen in a week or two,” Barkley pointed out, “and then you probably feel like you gotta play him.”
Bronny’s NBA statistics reflect his limited playing time: 0.7 points and 2.3 minutes per game in six appearances for the Lakers. In contrast, his G-League numbers are significantly higher – 5.0 points and 3.0 assists in 28.5 minutes over two games. This disparity has fueled concerns about nepotism in Bronny’s drafting and his readiness for the NBA. Barkley’s outspoken criticism adds further fuel to the already intense debate surrounding the Lakers’ handling of the young player.
First Piper 