BRONNY JAMES JOURNEY FROM COLLEGE TO PRO
Written By: Robert Littal
The 2024 NBA Draft has been criticized as one of the "weakest" drafts in recent memory. Many scouts, media, and front office personnel believe there is no real star or clear-cut number-one pick in this draft, a stark difference from what we've seen in years past.
Still, there are plenty of storylines surrounding this class. A couple of draftees have brothers in the NBA, like Colorado's Cody Williams, whose brother Jalen Williams plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder. But given that this is the first year the draft is a two-day event, how much movement could possibly be?
Perhaps the biggest storyline of the draft, though, is Bronny James. Son of NBA legend LeBron James, Bronny has been in the spotlight for his whole life. The attention is nothing new to him, and people talking about him, whether good or bad, is not new either.
Bronny isn't predicted to be a first-round pick, but he's probably the most talked-about prospect. Why?
Unless you haven't been paying attention, the answer is obvious - LeBron wants to play with his son. With LeBron possibly becoming a free agent this summer, front offices have to anticipate that if they draft Bronny, they will get LeBron as well. Will that make a team draft Bronny higher than expected? Only time will tell.
Teams will also have to do their due diligence. Despite being the son of LeBron, scouts have to wonder if Bronny is good enough to play in the NBA as his body of work is limited, making it hard to judge him fairly.
He started his freshman year at USC with a major health issue and was out for four months recuperating. When he returned, he played restricted minutes, which was not conducive to a successful season.
While at the combine, Bronny showed he has talent. He recorded a 40.5-inch vertical leap, the fourth highest at the combine. He shot 19-for-25 in the 3-point shooting drill, which put him second overall, and he measured a 6-foot-7¼ wingspan.
His scrimmages during the combine shot him up on the ESPN Top 100 rankings from 98 to 54. At the combine, he made it clear he wants to be seen as a basketball player with talent and not just the son of LeBron James.
He still has much to do and can impress many teams during the interview process, but that will likely add to what makes him the most intriguing prospect in the 2024 draft class.