USC Basketball: Stephen Jackson Claims Bronny James Is Better Than Recent Lottery Flameout

Big talk.

Longtime reserve league combo guard Austin Reaves, who himself has transitioned to the media world, opined that raw USC Trojans freshman Bronny James should avoid playing with his father LeBron, a 20-time All-Star forward currently with the Los Angeles Lakers, to avoid the weight of unfair expectations. 

"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 hope it doesn’t happen. I don’t wanna see Bronny play with his dad, I really don’t," Reaves said. "I went through something similar. It’s a very similar situation, but also different. I was already in the NBA when I went to play for him [his father, then-Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers]. What happens is people try to discredit what you’ve done."

"Right now, his numbers don’t scream pro, so if he is to go in the draft, or if he’s picked, it would be great if he gets picked up by a contending team that can help him, put him in a situation, because he has talent, he has basketball IQ, he has potential," Rivers continued. "Him going to play with his dad, at this point of his career, just because his success is not in a top-tier level. Him getting drafted and playing with his dad, I don’t want that negativity that comes with it because he doesn’t deserve it.“

Bronny could declare for this year's NBA draft if he so chooses, but he has had an underwhelming start to his college career.

In response, longtime journeyman NBA wing Stephen Jackson, now a well-regarded personality on Showtime's All The Smoke podcast, has weighed in with a controversial take on James, per Wenzell Ortiz of Sideline Sources.

“And your daddy not LeBron," Jackson said. "Shut up. Difference is you trash, Bronny not. You can’t compare to him scrub.”

This feels unduly harsh. Rivers is a solid two-way guard, and even today would probably be a helpful reserve in the backcourt of any contender on a minimum deal (like, say, LeBron's Lakers). 

James, meanwhile, isn't even a starter on his 9-13 Trojans team when everyone is healthy. Across 14 contests this season (four starts), he's averaging 5.9 points on .372/.275/.650 shooting splits, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.9 steals a night. He's shown more promise as a versatile perimeter defender, but he's not yet a lockdown guy on that end of the hardwood, either.