Broni James has found himself through no fault of his own at the center of this week’s debate.
It began when the nominees for the 46th Annual McDonald’s Boys All American Games were announced, and eldest son LeBron James He was among the 24 players selected The prestigious All-Star Game.
The omissions of high-profile players like Mickie Williams, AJ Johnson and Caleb Foster have helped fuel talk about whether Bronie James deserves a spot in the match, which will be played March 28 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
He said, “We’ll have this same conversation if it doesn’t work.” Frank Burlesonan original member of the McDonald’s All American Games selection committee, “because he would have stirred up a lot of conversation or debate either way just because of the nature of his identity.”
Brunei argument
He is not a clone of his father.
While LeBron James is chiseled at 6-9, Bronny is less imposing, listed at 6-3 on McDonald’s. But the notable plays were impressive for the senior at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California.
Footage of Bronny’s separate dunks was broadcast on ESPN, spread on social media and showed he had enough athleticism to deliver amazing moments.
“He has improved his head like any kid in the class,” he said. Brandon Claywho has been involved in basketball at the grassroots level for more than two decades and joined the McDonald’s Boys’ and Girls’ Games voting committee in 2015.
Clay said that over the past two years, he has seen Bruni play in person more than six times.
“Every time I saw him play live, he was really good, man,” Clay said. “He’s played great competition. He always seems like he belongs at the table. He never looks out of place.”
“Obviously he’s a very different player than his father. If you’re judging (Bruni) through that lens, I think it’s unfair to the kid.
“But if you’re talking about a kid who plays the game the right way, passes the extra ball to the corner kid, and can hit the three-ball, I feel like he’s played his way into the discussion.”
Adam FinkelsteinDirector of Basketball Scouting at 247 Sports said, “What doesn’t make sense is that LeBron James’ son and namesake isn’t necessarily the guy who’s going to go out and put 30 points on the board any night. That’s the part that I think surprises people at first who didn’t They watch it.
“What I think is most impressive is that given the microscope he was under throughout his high school career, he always played the right way. That means he shared the basketball, didn’t force bad shots, didn’t force himself to star play, and plays within. The flow of the game, and he doesn’t over-dribble This means he’s engaged and defensively competitive.
“While he may not go out and get you 30, he does things that will impact winning not just on this level but on the next.”
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Longtime selection committee member and scout Van Colman said Bruni wasn’t worth discussing with McDonald’s unless he showed progress since the summer. Since the end of the summer, in Coleman’s national rankings, Brunney has climbed to No. 29 from No. 41.
“Now it’s not 24,” Coleman said, referring to the 24 player rosters available for the McDonald’s game. But the difference between No. 20 and No. 30 (in the national rankings), shake a hat.
“He’s become a player where I can see on the road that he’s a recruitable player and he will eventually be.”
The argument against Bruni
Burleson, who was inducted into the Basketball Writers Association of America Hall of Fame in 2005, said being the son of LeBron James had a definite influence on Bruni’s selection.
“I don’t want this to sound negative about what I think of (Bruni) as a player,” said Burlison, the last original member of the still-voting selection committee. But if he wasn’t LeBron’s son, and I saw him at a different high school, I’d say, ‘He’s a good player. He’s the best of California, he’s a D-1 guard.
“But we’re not going to argue about whether McDonald’s is all-American or anything like that, that’s for sure. I don’t know if that sounds negative or hateful, but so be it. It’s just the case by the fact who his father is; he’ll shed light.” It is always positive or negative.”
What some critics are saying about Bronney: A complete player who lacks a killer’s instinct, a good shooter who lacks consistency, a player who’s good at plenty but rarely amazing – except for those who dunk occasionally, that is.
But Burlison wanted to clarify his thoughts about Bronny’s inclusion in the McDonald’s All American game.
He said, “There were quite a number of men I didn’t vote for, and they made it, so I don’t want to say that just on Bronny.” ‘There were other guys I didn’t vote for and I thought were less deserving than Brunei. Brunei is a good player.’
How voting works – or not
There are 24 electors who determine the boys’ lists, said Joe Wooten, the committee chair and game chair.
“The team is chosen democratically by a blue-ribbon committee, which is made up of tournament directors, event directors, scouts, media, and high school coaches,” Wooten told USA TODAY Sports. Everyone on the team is voted on by the committee. ”
Clay Klam, a former member of the girls’ game selection committee, said his specific questions about the voting process — including a lack of transparency — removed him from the panel in 2015. Klam said he was told by Terry Lane, the director of the nomination and selection process, that four places were on the list. It is determined by something other than a committee vote.
Jo Wooten said, ‘I’m not going to comment on that and my word for it, but I can tell you that’s not the case.’
Burleson dismissed the idea that Bruni made the cut in hopes of boosting ratings for ESPN, which televises the games, or because of any other “cheat”.
“They are honest people,” he said of Woottens.
Regardless of the voting process, Finkelstein of 247 Sports said, “Bronny James is the most recognizable name in high school basketball. So from a vision standpoint, if I were McDonald’s I’d probably want him in the game.”
The most controversial snub
Bruni’s presence in the mix only amplified the controversy. But the debate is nothing new given the reality of the process.
“There will be a child who is absent every year,” Coleman said.
Williams, Johnson and Foster will battle it out for the legendary and memorable title by being eliminated from the rosters.
Then there’s Jackson Chellstad, a guard from West Linn (Oregon) High School. He went head to head with Bronny on December 30th at the Les Schwab Invitational, a Class 1 tournament in Oregon. In the semifinals, Gelstad led the West over Sierra Canyon, 86-69, with 32 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor. He also grabbed seven rebounds and three assists.
Bruni scored 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting, along with four rebounds and two assists.
In the finals, Chelstad led West Lin past then no. 1 Duncanville (Texas), 62-50, with a game score of 30 points.
“It’s not just highlights, videos and social media,” Burleson said. “That’s what you do, and to me, no one in high school basketball did better than Jackson Schelstadt in senior season.
‘Would I put Schlstadt there on top of (Bruni)? Yes. I would also put him on a bunch of guys.’
Like father like son?
This may be difficult for Bruni.
In 2003, LeBron James won the McDonald’s All-American Game MVP award after leading the East to a 122-107 victory over the West with 27 points.
The father seems to focus more on his eldest son than on the heroic deeds of 20 years ago.
“So proud of you!” James wrote on Instagram when the selections were announced. “Keep being YOU through it all no matter what!!” You are really amazing!!! “
This article originally appeared in the USA TODAY: Broni James has a spot at the McDonald’s All American Game. does it belong