Doug Gottlieb is not high on Bronny James. The Fox Sports radio host and first-time college basketball coach genuinely believes that the son of LeBron James could not start for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
He literally said so!
Gottlieb was probably not fully serious in his comments about the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar rookie. They were likely inflated to show loyalty to his new team and new players. It happens all the time.
However, the 48-year-old was also not joking. Gottlieb genuinely believes that Bronny James would not crack the Phoenix’s starting five.
He would compete to start, but while I like how he moves the ball and defends, he wouldn’t be my point, and my wings are bigger and without seeing him w/us, I think it would be hard for him to start TBH
— Doug Gottlieb
That is a rather bold claim!
Haters love to hate Bronny and there is plenty of space for well-deserved criticism. He is shooting just 23% from the field during Summer League play. He has yet to hit a triple in a Lakers uniform and went 0-for-8 from beyond the arc on Friday.
This is after Bronny signed an unprecedented multi-million dollar contract as the No. 55 overall pick in the NBA Draft. Yikes.
Meanwhile, Gottlieb inherits a program that went 18-14 last season after three-straight years with less than 10 wins. Green Bay is typically relevant in the Horizon League but has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2016.
The Phoenix lost its leading scorer from a year ago and will need to replace his production at the guard spot. Most of its returning roster averaged eight points or less per game. And yet, Doug Gottlieb genuinely believes that the guys already in the system are better suited to start than Bronny.
There is no way to know if Gottlieb is right. Bronny is in the NBA and will never suit up for Green Bay.
That is probably part of why the Fox Sports radio host said what he said. Still, it is a rather bold statement from someone who has literally never coached basketball before!