LeBron James isn’t shy about his opinions on basketball, especially when it comes to his son Bronny. In a recent episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast, James revealed a surprising source of anxiety: watching Bronny play college ball for the USC Trojans.

“The NBA is the best league in the world, that’s why it’s hard to watch my son play college basketball,” James admitted. He elaborated on the unexpected intensity of the experience: “It’s tough watching a full 40-minute college game. The anxiety is real. I sweat more watching Bronny play now than at any point in my own career.”

Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans greets LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Galen Center on January 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.  (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

LeBron James, who famously bypassed college and went straight to the NBA, admits he’s struggling to adjust to watching his son Bronny play college ball for USC. Beyond personal anxiety, James expressed some criticisms of the college game itself.

“One thing I don’t understand is coaches throwing the ball into the post to big men who shouldn’t have it,” James said on the “Mind the Game” podcast. He elaborated on his preferred strategy, emphasizing quick decisions and attacking opportunities.

James seems frustrated by seeing plays that don’t follow his philosophy, contrasting them with his vision of an effective post player.

Lebron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, and his wife Savannah James, watch their son Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans play against the California Golden Bears in the first half at Haas Pavilion on February 07, 2024 in Berkeley, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Bronny dealt with a cardiac arrest before the start of the season, which was a scary moment for the James family. He was able to recover and play in 25 games this season for a Trojans squad that struggled. He missed the first eight games.

He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game for USC.

The biggest question now for Bronny is whether he will enter the 2024 NBA Draft with the Trojans’ season over.

“It’s up to him,” LeBron said during NBA All-Star Weekend. “It’s up to the kid. Obviously, we gonna go through the whole process. He’s still in season now, has the Pac-12 tournament coming up. … We gonna weigh our options, and we gonna let the kid make the decision.”

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shouts to his son, Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans, during Bronny’s game against the California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion on February 07, 2024 in Berkeley, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)