Topics: Lebron James, Stephen A Smith, NBA, Basketball
Bronny James has spoken out amid allegations of nepotism since his arrival in the NBA.
James, the son of legendary NBA star LeBron James, was drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers at the beginning of the season.
The pair have since become the first father-son duo in NBA history, leading to fans questioning Bronny's credibility at the top level.
He was moved to the Lakers' affiliate team, South Bay Lakers, in November.
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South Bay are part of the G League, the minor league association in US basketball.
Coach JJ Redick stated that the Lakers' plan was to move James between the two teams as he adapted to playing regular professional basketball.
On March 15, he played 15 minutes in a 131-126 defeat to Denver Nuggets, scoring five points.
Now, the shooting guard/point guard has opened up on his first season in the NBA, how he has adapted to life in the league and responded to critics of his status in the sport.
He told The Athletic: "My first thought about everything is I always try to just let it go through one ear and out the other, put my head down and come to work, and be positive every days.
"But sometimes, it just fuels me a little bit. I see everything that people are saying, and people think, like, I'm a f***ing robot. Like I don't have any feelings or emotions.
"I just take that and use it as fuel for me to go out, wake up every day and get to the gym early, get my extra work in, watch my extra film every day, get better every day.
"That's what Rob [Pelinka, Lakers head coach] wants me to do as a young guy, coming in, playing in the G League and learning from far on the bench watching the Lakers play."
LeBron and TV host Stephen A Smith clashed at a Lakers game earlier this month, in what was fuelled by a disagreement over Bronny.
Smith explained: "He [LeBron] was fiery. He approached me during the game... he said, 'Stop f***ing with my son, that's my f***ing son'."
Smith had previously claimed that the 20-year-old was only in the NBA 'because of his dad'.
