On September 24, a month before the new NBA season, former NBA "parallel import" Kwame · Brown bluntly criticized today's basketball superstar LeBron · James and his son Bronny · James. The remarks quickly sparked heated discussions inside and outside the basketball circle, with netizens discussing whether Kwame · Brown's views were justified.
Kwame · Brown first commented on LeBron · James' style of play on the show. "James has always played the same way," he said. He's a breakout, and while he's developed some three-point shooting ability, the problem is that he's in trouble when he's up against a team like the Bulls or the Celtics who have a solid defensive principle. If it's a veteran player, they should have developed mid-range shooting and low-post offense at the age of 39, but James hasn't done that yet. ”
At the heart of this assessment is that Kwame · Brown believes that James' offensive approach is too one-dimensional, and despite his ability to break through, it is difficult to play to that advantage against a heavily defended team. Brown's comments are not only critical of James' current style of play, but also questions about whether James has enough technical reserves as a veteran who is about to turn 39.
He believes that at James' age, there should be more variety of offensive means, such as more solid mid-range jumpers and low-post techniques, in order to prolong his career and maintain an advantage in the game.
There's no denying that James has relied on breakouts to score for most of his career. His strong physicality and excellent basketball IQ make him almost unstoppable when he breaks through. However, as he got older, he did work hard to increase his shooting ability, especially the three-point shot. In the 2022-23 season, James shot 32.1% from three-point range, which is not the top level in the league, but it is already a good performance for a player who is good at breaking.
As for mid-range shooting and low-post offense, James isn't as well-known for his skills as Kobe · Bryant or Michael · Jordan, but he can still use footwork, physical confrontation and skill to gain an advantage under the basket. As James got older, he relied more on experience and intelligence than just physicality, something that Kwame · Brown perhaps overlooked.
In addition to criticism of James himself, Kwame · Brown offered his own thoughts on the future of James' son, Bronny · James: "Bronny is an athletic young man, but he needs to be more confident in shooting. He had to learn how to cut and break through better, and also learn how to play point guard. It's too rare to play a shooting guard with his height. If he doesn't improve his ball control, I think he'll be adrift in the league. ”
This comment by Brown can be seen as an objective evaluation of Brownie's current level of technology. Bronny is indeed still in his formative stages as a young defender, and his style of play is constantly improving. Bronny has decent athleticism, especially in defense and passing, but his shooting needs to be improved to the next level. Kwame · Brown pointed out Bronny's shortcomings in ball control and playmaking, which are really crucial for his future development in the NBA.
It is not yet known whether Bronny will be able to make a name for himself in the NBA in the future. As James's son, he has his own aura, and the expectations of the outside world are naturally high. However, Brownie's growth trajectory has yet to be fully revealed. Many fans believe that with his father's influence, Bronny may be able to make it to the NBA, but if he can't quickly improve his ball control and shooting confidence, he may become a player who is difficult to stabilize in the league, as Kwame · Brown said.
However, it should be emphasized that Brownie is still young and there is still a lot of room for improvement in the future. As a defender, controlling the tempo, improving shooting percentage, and improving game reading skills can all be improved with time and practice. While Kwame ·'s concerns are valid, it remains to be seen whether Bronny can break through those limits and finally gain a foothold in the NBA.
Kwame · Brown is a controversial NBA figure himself. He was drafted by the Washington Wizards as the No. 1 pick in 2001, becoming the first high school rookie in NBA history. However, his career was not smooth, he failed to play a performance worthy of the status of the champion, and was even nicknamed "parallel champion" by fans. Despite this, Kwame · Brown played for several NBA teams, including the Lakers, Grizzlies, Pistons, Warriors, etc., and played 12 seasons in the NBA.
In 2013, Kwame · Brown left the NBA and gradually faded out of the basketball world. In recent years, he has frequently spoken out about the NBA's current players on social media and live broadcasts, and his unique perspective and outspoken attitude to basketball have attracted a lot of attention.
Basketball fans have had mixed reactions to Kwame ·'s criticism. Supporters argue that Brown's remarks hit the nail on the head, that James' style of play is indeed too reliant on physical talent, and that Bronny does need to further polish his skills. Opponents, on the other hand, argue that Kwame · Brown's remarks are too harsh and ignore James' comprehensiveness as well as Bronny's potential.
In any case, Kwame ·'s views have sparked widespread discussion. In this competitive NBA world, players need to constantly improve themselves to meet challenges from inside and outside. How James and Bronny will respond to these criticisms, future games will give an answer.
Do you think Kwame ·'s criticism is justified? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.