Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas has weighed in on the ongoing debate about Bronny James’ role in the league, arguing that the rookie is unfairly criticized despite limited playing time.

Arenas specifically pointed to Bronny’s per-36 numbers in the limited time he has received with the Lakers, arguing that they indicate his potential rather than warranting criticism.

Bronny James’ role in the NBA has been a hot topic this season, despite spending most of his time developing in the G-League with the South Bay Lakers.

A Rookie Under Unfair Scrutiny

Arenas, speaking on his show Gil’s Arena, pointed out the unfair criticism directed at Bronny, emphasizing that no other rookie has been subjected to such intense scrutiny.

“When have we ever attacked a rookie player? We still haven’t even criticized last year’s players for flopping?” Arenas questioned.

He also argued that the limited minutes Bronny has received make it difficult for him to showcase his abilities. “You know damn well those first couple of games Bronny gets in, one minute, three minutes—he ain’t playing well. Even No. 1 picks don’t play well with that kind of time.”

Bronny’s Potential in Limited NBA Minutes

Arenas backed up his argument by analyzing Bronny’s potential impact in the NBA.

“His per-36 numbers with the time he’s getting would be 12 points, four assists, and four rebounds. That’s in the NBA. If Bronny played 36 minutes per game, he’d average those numbers. He’d be top five for Rookie of the Year.”

Drawing comparisons to legendary Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, Arenas reminded critics of Kobe’s slow start in the league.

“Back in the day, Kobe Bryant was the future for the Lakers. His first game? 0-for-1 in six minutes. Second game? 0-for-1. Then 2-for-3 in 17 minutes, 3-for-8, then 0-for-3. That’s what a rookie looks like. So if this is what a great player looked like as a rookie, why would you bash the 55th pick (Bronny) for putting up similar numbers?”

As the debate continues, the Lakers recently announced that Bronny would be recalled to the main roster and will travel with the team for their upcoming game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Whether this translates into more playing time remains to be seen, but Arenas’ comments have certainly added another layer to the discussion.