With ‘probably three rounds’ worth of prospects more than talented’ than the USC guard, an unnamed NBA executive has revealed that teams willing to draft Bronny James this year will only do so ‘to get LeBron’s attention’.
That’s what a general manager of an NBA team said in an interview with Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer that was released on Wednesday.
In addition to keeping his college eligibility and registering for the transfer portal last week, Bronny announced his intention to enter the 2024 NBA Draft. The 19-year-old is seeking a way out of the Trojans regardless of whether he chooses to play professionally or not.
The anonymous general manager cautioned LeBron’s oldest son, “There are probably three rounds’ worth of prospects more talented than Bronny in this class.”
Thus, selecting Bronny has less to do with Bronny personally and more to do with gaining LeBron’s attention at the moment.
The Ringer reports that Ohio State, the flagship university of his father’s home state, and Duquesne, which is currently coached by LeBron’s former high school teammate, Dru Joyce, are in the running to recruit Bronny before his sophomore season of college hoops. Bronny considered Oregon before joining a highly talented USC team that included potential lottery pick, Isaiah Collier, last year.
This spring, Joyce took over as head coach from Keith Dambrot, who was LeBron’s high school coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary.
The Los Angeles Lakers, along with the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and New York Knicks, are clearly among the NBA teams interested in drafting Bronny. ‘Regardless of the odds that LeBron would have interest,’ smaller markets like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz, teams with a cache of picks, are also in the running to draft the young player, The Ringer reports.
Last May, LeBron declared, “He’s going to do what’s best for him, whatever his journey lays out.” We’ll be there for him no matter what he chooses to do. Thus, just because it’s my dream or objective, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s his. And that’s perfectly fine with me.
An NBA general manager told The Ringer that Bronny, who had a cardiac arrest during a USC off-season workout last summer, is “nowhere near ready” to play in the NBA. It’s unclear if this executive claimed that teams competing for Bronny’s draft slot are merely doing so to sign his four-time NBA champion father.
“He should return to school so that he can grow at his own pace and not get lost in the shuffle,” the person said, regardless of whether the boy was playing with his father.
According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, an NBA scout called Bronny a “undersized non-shooting guard,” but it looks like he needs to improve his shooting.
Although it appears good, the shot is not taken. I’m most afraid of those guys. The scout went on to tell The Ringer, “It’s either lack of touch or mental, and either way those take years to correct.”
Bronny’s USC freshman season was not as successful as expected; in 19.4 minutes per game, he averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, shooting only 36.6 percent from the field, 26.7 percent from three, and 67.6 percent from the free-throw line.
It will take time to determine whether the eldest son of one of the greatest basketball players of all time is ready to join the NBA or if this summer will be a regrettable one for him.