USC Basketball: LeBron James Recruited Former All-Star Guard To Keep Tabs On Bronny

LeBron James called upon an NBA all-star to look after USC's star freshman.

USC star freshman Bronny James has been the topic of conversation for a variety of reasons since he started his basketball journey. He deserves the notoriety outside of being the son of NBA icon and Laker superstar LeBron James. Being in your father's shadow is tough, but he's sure making a name for himself in his time at USC. 

Before attending USC, Bronny was a star at the basketball powerhouse high school Sierra Canyon; he became an All-American there and was a hot commodity in the recruiting cycle. However, before all that, he was just LeBron's son and came to Los Angeles because LeBron agreed to become a Laker in the summer of 2018. 

Around that time, LeBron reached out to former all-star guard Gilbert Arenas to keep an eye on his son and analyze his game as he came up. Bronny was an eighth grader entering the ninth grade. Arenas explained on Clippers forward Paul George's podcast. 'Podcast P,' how he didn't hesitate to do the favor for the four-time NBA champion. 

"When Bron and them came out this way he hit me in the DM saying,’He [Bronny] is gonna be working out…Can you put some eyes on him? I’m a little worried’.”

(per Gilbert Arenas via Podcast P)

Arenas agreed to work with Bronny and continued to talk about what he saw from his game at the time on George's podcast. 

“I hit him back and I said, ‘Yo, y’all probably got the same speed. Probably got the same passing skills. IQ damn near the same. At this age, he probably jumps a little bit higher. Probably a little bit stronger. He can definitely shoot better and dribble better than you’.”

(per Gilbert Arenas via Podcast P)

James made the call to a person he trusted in Agent Zero. After Arenas saw how Bronny worked, he told LeBron, "You ain't gotta worry." 

The three-time all-star praised the teenager in George's podcast but also kept it honest regarding what he sees from him today. 

“That’s what’s holding him [Bronny] back. He plays the right way, he follows rules. We don’t know what he really is. He has the Bugatti engine, but he wants to drive the speed limit. He don’t want a ticket. ‘I don’t want a ticket.’ That’s how he uses his body.” 

(per Gilbert Arenas via Podcast P)

Bronny is averaging 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 38.1% from the field in 11 games and 19.6 minutes per game. 

The 19-year-old is off to a slow start, but he has people who believe he can be elite when all is said and done.