Over the last couple of weeks, Bronny James has been adjusting to life in the NBA.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ second-round pick has appeared in three games so far, including the team’s opening night win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he and his father LeBron made history as the first father-son duo to appear in an NBA game together. After not playing in the team’s next three contests, Bronny saw action at Cleveland, where he scored his first NBA points in front of his dad’s old fans.
Bronny also appeared briefly in Los Angeles’ 131-125 win in Toronto last week. The Lakers are in the middle of a five-game road trip, which concludes tonight in Memphis, and will be back at home Friday night to host the Philadelphia 76ers.
While on the road, Bronny posted on Instagram that he was missing his girlfriend, Parker Whitfield. Apparently, he made sure to let Whitfield know he was thinking of her while away.
On Tuesday, Whitfield, the daughter of actors Dondre and Salli Richardson-Whitfield, shared photos on Instagram of a present and a bouquet of flowers Bronny sent her from the road.
“Your BF loves you so much,’ an accompanying note read.
Thankfully, the two young lovers will see each other soon, when Bronny returns to the West Coast.
So far, the Lakers are keeping the 20-year-old guard with the big club, though NBA legend Charles Barkley thinks Bronny could use some time in the minor leagues to hone his game.
“I think he needs to go to the G League so he can get better as a basketball player,” Barkley said recently. “He’s not going to get better sitting on the bench… He needs to play basketball… The only way you get better at playing any sport is playing that sport. I think it’s a great story, it’s great for LeBron, but he needs to go to the G League to learn how to get better as a basketball player.”
Related: Bronny James Is Missing His Girlfriend During First NBA Road Trip