Maybe you’ve heard, but LeBron James’ son is debating whether he should enter the 2024 NBA Draft after playing one season with the USC Trojans. But unlike his father, Bronny James is not a generational talent who’s viewed as the consensus top pick.
It’s not that he’s not athletic or doesn’t have the ability to defend at a high level. But at 6-foot-4, he’s also not nearly as big as his dad, who stands at 6-foot-9. Some even suggest USC has done him a favor by listing him at 6-foot-4, when he’s actually more like 6-foot-2. Like LeBron did coming out of high school, Bronny also needs to work on his scoring skills to become a regular contributor.
Yet, there’s undoubtedly going to be interest in Bronny James ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft. The question is, how much is LeBron’s presence as Bronny’s father impacting his draft stock?
Some have suggested that Bronny is only being considered an NBA Draft prospect because LeBron is his dad. Recently, an unnamed NBA GM told The Ringer that “Bronny is nowhere near ready.” But that’s not all.
Now ESPN doesn’t even have Bronny listed on their 2024 NBA Draft board. They instead list Bronny as a second-round prospect for the 2025 draft class. Yet, Bronny still has his name entered in the 2024 draft pool, along with entering the NCAA transfer portal. But another current NBA GM doesn’t think Bronny should hold his breath on being selected this year.
“There are probably three rounds’ worth of prospects more talented than Bronny in this class. So picking Bronny is more about getting LeBron’s attention right now than it is about developing Bronny himself.”
Anonymous current GM on Bronny James
LeBron James, who is entering the final year of his contract yet has a player option that he can exercise to enter free agency, has hinted at wanting to team up with his son in the NBA. While teams may not view Bronny as an elite talent right now, seeing where his development goes in the pros while adding a surefire ticket-seller in LeBron could be enticing for a contender.
Yet, as scouts and analysts can tell you, there are far better players in the draft who can help teams win now. But that doesn’t mean Bronny won’t receive plenty of interest, likely thanks to his father.