Chris “Mad Dog” Russo recently appeared on the ‘Dan Patrick Show,’ where he shared his candid and rather harsh opinions about Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James. With the NBA Draft approaching, Russo expressed skepticism about Bronny’s readiness for the professional league, particularly criticizing his performance during his freshman year at USC.

“I don’t think Bronny James is that good. He scored four points a game at USC. I mean, geez. I mean, he’d be on the bench. He wouldn’t even play at UConn. So he needs another year of college basketball. That’s the first thing.”

“And then if you bring him in and you use a first round pick on him, you know, you’re going to hurt your team that way. And then you got to deal with, you’re going to play him. You know, you sit him on the bench, and then you bring LeBron in, and then who’s running the team. I think it’s a mess.” (3:10)

Russo highlighted Bronny’s modest college stats, noting that he averaged only 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in his lone season at USC. Given these numbers, Russo argued that Bronny might struggle to find playing time on more competitive college teams, using UConn as an example.

He asserted that Bronny wouldn’t even make it off the bench at UConn, suggesting that he needs at least another year of college basketball to develop his skills further.

Russo’s comments came in response to speculation about Bronny potentially being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks. Dan Patrick floated the idea of the Mavericks drafting Bronny, which could lead to LeBron James joining the team and reuniting with Kyrie Irving.

Russo dismissed this scenario, warning that using a first-round pick on Bronny could hurt any team due to his current level of play. He also pointed out the complications that could arise with LeBron’s influence on the team’s dynamics if Bronny were to be drafted.

The former Mike and the Mad Dog host didn’t hold back in his assessment, emphasizing that drafting Bronny as a first-round pick would be a mistake for any NBA team. He predicted challenges in managing playing time for Bronny and the potential disruption of team chemistry with LeBron’s involvement.

Bronny James’ college career has shown flashes of potential, including notable performances against Oregon State and Arizona, but his overall stats have led to mixed opinions about his readiness for the NBA.

Despite the criticisms, Bronny remains a high-profile prospect due to his lineage and the high expectations that come with being LeBron James’ son. Whether he proves his critics wrong in the upcoming NBA Draft or chooses to further develop his game in college, Bronny’s basketball journey will continue to be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.

Bill Simmons Wants The Celtics To Draft Bronny James To Mess With The Lakers
On a recent episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Bill Simmons floated a controversial suggestion for the Boston Celtics in the upcoming NBA Draft. Simmons proposed that the Celtics should use their 30th overall pick to draft Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, not necessarily for his on-court skills, but as a strategic asset.

Simmons argued that since the Celtics are a deep team with a solid roster, any player they draft would likely spend time developing in the G-League rather than making an immediate impact.

Given this, Simmons believes that drafting Bronny James could provide the Celtics with significant leverage, particularly with the Los Angeles Lakers, who have a vested interest in Bronny due to LeBron’s public desire to play alongside his son in the NBA.

“Why not take Bronny and hold him hostage?” Simmons suggested. He elaborated that the Celtics could use Bronny as a trade asset, leveraging his selection to potentially extract valuable pieces from the Lakers or other interested teams. Simmons speculated that the Lakers might be willing to part with a player like Max Christie to acquire Bronny and fulfill LeBron’s wish.

Simmons acknowledged that this strategy might seem extreme but argued that the potential trade value of Bronny James could exceed that of any other player the Celtics might draft at the 30th spot. This tactic, according to Simmons, would be similar to a scenario from the movie “Taken,” where the Celtics could metaphorically “hold Bronny hostage” to get what they want from the Lakers.

This idea was met with mixed reactions, with some seeing it as a shrewd business move and others viewing it as overly manipulative and potentially damaging to relationships within the NBA, particularly with Rich Paul, Bronny’s agent. Drafting Bronny solely as a bargaining chip could be seen as exploiting the young player and might not sit well with the broader basketball community.

While Simmons’ suggestion is unlikely to be implemented, it does highlight the strategic complexities and sometimes ruthless nature of NBA team management.

If the Celtics were to draft Bronny, it would more likely be due to his potential and the opportunity to develop a talented young player rather than a ploy to gain leverage over the Lakers. Regardless, the idea certainly adds an intriguing layer to the ongoing rivalry between the Celtics and the Lakers.

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