LOS ANGELES — The entire Galen Center seemed to realize it at once:
They were going to get what they came for.
Or, whom they came for.
It started as an ordinary play: a block-turned-fast-break for USC, midway through the Trojans’ Saturday night game vs. Colorado. As freshman Isaiah Collier dribbled down the center of the court, he peeked to his right and saw a blur streaking by. An opening. As he crossed the 3-point arc, Collier lofted a lob toward the right side of the rim — and suddenly, the crowd saw what Collier had. All they could do was freeze, as his would-be recipient leaped off the hardwood and soared to meet the pass.
Showtime, Bronny.
Somehow, LeBron James’ oldest son — Bronny James, LeBron James Jr. — corralled Collier’s pass through contact, directed it perfectly off the backboard, and watched it drop through the net as he fell to the hardwood. And-one. It was only James’ first basket of the night, but it mattered: to the score, obviously — it put USC up 16 with under 10 minutes to play — but also to the faithful fans dotting a maybe-half-full arena, those who chose to spend their Saturday night in Los Angeles (of all places) supporting the Pac-12’s second-worst team.
“Someone say, ‘Yeah, Bronny!’” the in-stadium DJ roared. The crowd responded in kind: “Yeah, Bronny!”
It was a moment. For some — like the three young boys six rows behind USC’s bench, waving James Jr. jerseys — it was probably worth the price of admission alone.
But … it was also the only play of consequence James made all night, in a game USC eventually lost in crushing fashion in double overtime. The former four-star recruit played just 14 minutes — including none in either overtime period — and finished with one of his more pedestrian stat lines all season: 2 points on 1-of-2 shooting, with one missed free throw, one rebound, two assists, and one turnover. Saturday included, he’s only averaging 5.7 points per game this season, with a career-high 11 in a 15-point loss at Arizona.
“He’s done a good job. He’s improved,” USC coach Andy Enfield said. “We just went with our veterans down the stretch, but he has continued to improve as a player.”
Especially considering James’ cardiac arrest this summer — he collapsed during a team workout in July, likely due to a congenital heart defect, according to a James family spokesperson — that is certainly true. That the 19-year-old is playing at all is incredible. And any cursory review of his freshman-year tape reflects on-court growth, too. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, James doesn’t have the same overwhelming size as his famous father, but he has a promising jump shot, an obviously high basketball IQ, strong defensive instincts, and a sturdy frame. You don’t have to squint to see how that package, put together, has the makings of a future NBA player — even if you didn’t know this is LeBron James’ son.
But that’s the thing: This is LeBron James’ son. And that — for better or (mostly) worse — completely changes the calculus on everything surrounding Bronny James.
The Athletic reported this week that in an attempt to secure the elder James’ services for the immediate future, the Los Angeles Lakers are “willing to explore the notion of adding Bronny James next season.” LeBron has long expressed his desire to play with his son before his Hall of Fame career ends, and this is just the latest report corroborating that. Let’s be clear here: There’s nothing wrong with a father wanting to share the spotlight with his son. It’s sweet. It would be an incredible family moment, something both James’ could cherish forever.
Except, one problem: While LeBron was in Indianapolis for the NBA All-Star Game over the weekend, his son couldn’t get off the bench Saturday night for USC — which at 10-16 overall, 4-11 in the Pac-12 and 103rd in KenPom is one of the most disappointing teams in college basketball. Enfield…
This article was originally published by a theathletic.com . Read the Original article here. .