Bronny James’ girlfriend’s father, actor Dondre Whitfield, recently stepped in to defend LeBron James after Dan Patrick questioned the four-time NBA champion’s legacy with the Los Angeles Lakers.
On the April 3 episode of The Dan Patrick Show, the veteran broadcaster argued that Lakers fans might not be thrilled to see LeBron’s jersey retired. “I think Lakers fans will have a problem with LeBron’s jersey being retired,” Patrick said, emphasizing that James wasn’t a lifelong Laker like Magic Johnson or Kobe Bryant. “LeBron just kind of came in,” he added.
Whitfield, a guest on the show, wasn’t about to let that slide. He quickly pointed out that several Lakers legends—including Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—also weren’t drafted by the team but had their numbers retired. Later, Whitfield commented on Patrick’s social media post, writing:
“Dan????? Come on, man. This commentary is aging like your eyes. Lol. It’s not about years. It’s about impact.”
While there will be a lot of people who will dismiss LeBron’s legacy with the Lakers, the numbers won’t lie as his contributions to the team have been nothing short of spectacular. Before he arrived in Los Angeles, the Lakers finished 11th in the Western Conference.
LeBron’s impact has been undeniable. When he joined the Lakers, the team was struggling and had missed the playoffs five straight seasons. In just his second year, LeBron led the franchise to the 2020 NBA title—their first since 2010. Now in 2025, the Lakers are poised for another deep playoff run, opening the postseason against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Bronny James’ rookie season as rated by JJ Redick
While LeBron James continues to stir debate over his legacy, his son Bronny James has been quietly carving out his path in his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the Lakers’ final regular-season game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Bronny earned his first NBA start. Though his shooting struggled—going 2-for-10 from the field—he still filled the stat sheet with four points, three rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a career-high 38 minutes. Not the breakout night he may have hoped for, but a clear sign that the coaching staff trusts him on the floor.
Since being traded from USC to the Lakers organization, Bronny has split time between the main roster and their G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. That’s where he’s found his rhythm, averaging an impressive 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He capped off his G-League campaign with a standout 39-point performance in a 122-118 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors on March 25.
At the NBA level, Bronny is still finding his footing, averaging 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 27 appearances. But he showed flashes of his potential in a March 20 game against the Milwaukee Bucks, where he dropped 17 points and looked every bit like he belonged.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick has been encouraged by Bronny’s growth and praised his mindset throughout the season.
“I give him an A+,” Redick said. “He’s handled a lot of attention—both good and bad—with incredible poise. He’s the same guy every day. Doesn’t let the hype affect him. Doesn’t let the criticism rattle him. He just works.”
Bronny, for his part, is embracing the grind. “I thought I got better. I thought I grew as a player and a person,” he told Spectrum SportsNet. “There’s still more work to do. I feel like my progression has been slow but steady.”
Redick added, “Every time he’s on the court, especially in the second half of the season, you can see his confidence and comfort growing. I’m really high on him long-term as a key part of our rotation.”
With the Lakers preparing to face the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, Bronny may soon get the chance to show just how far he’s come.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
