LeBron James Talks Bronny's Development, in 2nd NBA Season, 'Super Proud of Him'

LeBron James says he has been impressed by the way his son Bronny James has stepped up in his second NBA season when Los Angeles Lakers starters like Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart have been injured.

"It's been great, not only as a father, but just as a student of the game, to see someone use what he was able to do last year in the G League, use that, get more comfortable, then go into Summer League, be even more comfortable, and when his time has been called this year just continue to feel good about it," James said around the 12:10 mark of Friday's Mind the Game podcast.

James specifically referenced the Lakers' back-to-back on Nov. 2 against the visiting Miami Heat and on Nov. 3 in Portland, during which Bronny played more than 18 minutes in consecutive games for the first time this season.

"I was just super proud of him, of the maturation process of him not only being able to play well at home, but then have a back-to-back and a tough environment in Portland," James said.

Bronny has made 11 appearances so far this season. He is overall shooting 8-for-28 from the field and 3-for-12 from deep, both percentage drops from his rookie campaign, although his offensive rating has climbed by more than 12 points to 107.9.

The 21-year-old was recently sent to make his G League season debut with the South Bay Lakers, a move he told reporters was about learning "how to be effective off the ball."

James said on Friday's podcast that while he wants to help his son, Bronny ultimately has to get to full-time NBA readiness on his own.

"We have our side time, where I can tell him about what I've seen, what I saw, or whatever," James said. "But he has to walk his own journey. And I can give him the blueprint, and I can give him some of the things that I've seen, but I want him to walk through the fire as well, and I think that's going to be the best teacher for him, for him to be able to go through these experiences and be able to come out the best way he knows how.

"He loves the game, and that's what's most important. And he loves the work, and there's no substitution for hard work, so that's what it comes down to."

The Lakers are set to reunite with Anthony Davis if the big man makes his expected return to the Dallas Mavericks' lineup during Friday night's NBA Cup action in Los Angeles.