After the Las Vegas Summer League, Bronny James was thrust into the spotlight due to factors beyond his control. Speculation emerged that an unnamed player from the Los Angeles Lakers had complained about the team allegedly giving James preferential treatment during the event.
The whole narrative hinged on the account of a single anonymous player, which often suggests minimal credibility. Nevertheless, due to James’ status as the son of a Lakers superstar, the claim gained traction quickly. Blake Hinson, the standout shooter from the Summer League alongside James, responded to the rumors.
In a discussion with Trevor Lane and Matthew Peralta of Lakers Nation, Hinson strongly rejected the notion of special treatment for James, dismissing the rumor as absurd.
“No. Where did that come from? Honestly, stuff like that doesn’t really surprise me,” Hinson stated. “But we need to determine if there’s any truth to it because, to be completely honest, James was treated just like everyone else’s
“He just played basketball and kept to himself. He’s a great guy. I don’t see how such a rumor started. To me, it’s nonsense,” Hinson said.
He reiterated this stance while commending James for his demeanor both on and off the court, expressing that he enjoyed playing with the young rookies
“James is a great guy both on and off the court. I don’t understand the nonsense you just mentioned. It’s not true and shouldn’t be,” Hinson said.
If James had received any special treatment, Hinson would have likely witnessed it firsthand. The former Pitt forward and Lakers two-way player spent a lot of time on the court with James during Summer League and both were warmly received by fans.
Given the attention James has garnered since being drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft, it’s not surprising that such rumors would arise. However, Hinson firmly believes there is no truth to the claims.
Ultimately, Bronny James is a 19-year-old passionate about basketball who now has the opportunity to play at the highest level. In less contentious news, James shared a list of his all-time favorite basketball players, which naturally included his father along with other prominent stars.
He included LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on his list.
