Bronny James is ready to be himself, but the NBA still sees LeBron James Jr.
The wall of cameras and reporters focused on Bronny James against the blue back drop, the diamond stud in his right ear reflecting the lights as he answered different versions of the same question at the NBA scouting combine.
"To be honest," he said with a soft smile, "It's a lot."
No one flat-out asked — it would've been too rude, too direct — "Bronny, aren't you just here because of your dad?"
It's the question that has followed him wherever he has gone.
Did he really deserve those minutes at Sierra Canyon? Was he really a five-star recruit? Did he earn that spot on the McDonald's All-American team?
Why in the hell is he entering the NBA draft after averaging 4.8 points as a freshman at USC?
And earlier this week at the NBA combine, every time a question encroached on that topic, James answered confidently.
LeBron James and LeBron James Jr. share a name. They don't necessarily share a basketball future.
"My dream has always just been to
