Bronny James saga takes another surprise turn as Lebron James' son opens the bidding for his services to the NBA

Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The saga of what Bronny James will do next took a surprising turn on Friday when he stunned many by declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft.

When you are the son of an NBA icon like Lebron James, the expectations can be quite high as you follow a similar career path — especially after an impressive high school career. Unfortunately, year one for Bronny James in the college ranks did not deliver the results many expected.

Bronny James stats (2023-24): 4.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 TOPG 27% 3PT

In 25 appearances for the USC Trojans in 2023-24, James posted just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in under 20 minutes per game. His numbers from this past season were not the electrifying output that was expected of the young prospect. That is why it was unsurprising when rumors spread earlier this week that Bronny James could be entering the college basketball transfer portal.

However, in the end, it was all just speculation and the talented guard had revealed little about his plans for 2024. That is until today. The son of Lebron James announced in an Instagram post on Friday that he will indeed add his name to the transfer portal. But he will also declare for the NBA Draft.

Why Bronny James’ decision is a smart one

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The move is surprising but does make a lot of sense since it will give him the chance to look over all the possible options he has in front of him. If he were to be selected in the 2024 NBA Draft most projections have him as a late first-round pick at best, and that is mostly due to the possibility of his father opting out of his Los Angeles Lakers deal and going to play for the team that takes him.

Due to NIL pacts in the college ranks and the prospects of being a late first or second-round pick in June, he may not make more money in the NBA. James reportedly made just under $6 million in name, image, and likeness deals in 2023-24. That is nearly double of what he could make as a pro next season.

By maintaining his college eligibility he can see what his draft prospects are while also being recruited by different programs around the nation. Essentially it is the best of worlds for James in the months ahead.