USC Basketball: Second-Gen NBA Star Doesn't Believe Bronny James Should Play With LeBron

Is he right?

Longtime NBA veteran Austin Rivers, appearing on ESPN's "NBA Today" this morning, stated that he doesn't consider USC Trojans freshman combo guard Bronny James to be "at a top-tier level," and spoke at length about how he believes Bronny should avoid playing with his father, current Los Angeles Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James.

"Bronny's success isn't at a top-tier level. ... I don't want that negativity to come his way."@AustinRivers25 explained why he doesn't want to see Bronny play with LeBron James. pic.twitter.com/d2gwzLVdp3

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 6, 2024

“I don’t want to see Bronny play with his dad," Rivers said. "I went through something similar… What happens is that everyone starts to discredit everything that you’ve done… I don’t want that negativity to come his way, he doesn’t deserve it.”

Of course, Rivers knows a thing or two about playing with outsized expectations as the son of an NBA All-Star. His father, current Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, enjoyed a successful career as an NBA point guard from 1983-96, making one All-Star appearance with the Atlanta Hawks. He's been an NBA head coach since 1999, enjoying his most success stewarding the Boston Celtics from 2004-13, a tenure that included two NBA Finals appearances in 2008 and 2010 (they won in 2008).

Austin, more of a combo guard than a true point guard, was selected with the tenth pick in the 2012 draft out of Duke, and wound up enjoying a decade-long run as a reliable sixth/seven man on several playoff-bound teams. He's been a free agent throughout the 2023-24 season, and has been focused on cultivating a media career through his work with ESPN and The Ringer.

LeBron James has long discussed the possibility of playing with Bronny, who would become draft-eligible after this season, though he has slid off most mock draft boards of late. They could technically achieve LeBron's dream this year, but it probably makes more sense for Bronny to marinate at the college level.