LeBron “Bronny” James Jr. is taking his skills to … Los Angeles, the place historical past together with his father awaits.
James, the son of NBA celebrity LeBron James, was drafted by his father’s Lakers with the fifty fifth general choose within the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday after going unselected within the first spherical. If the pair take the courtroom collectively, it is going to be the primary time a father and son have performed collectively in NBA historical past.
The 6-foot-2 guard out of the College of Southern California had been a significant speaking level main as much as draft. Whereas a whole lot of the hype could come from his final title, his recreation has steadily developed through the years to organize him for this second.
Yahoo Sports activities NBA draft analyst Krysten Peek projected that James can be taken with the fifty fifth general choice by the Los Angeles Lakers.
“James is way from a completed product, however proved he belonged on this draft class as a prospect on the draft mix, the place he shot the ball properly and confirmed extra scoring potential within the lane together with his floater,” Peek wrote in her most up-to-date mock draft.
Regardless of sharing genes with one of many biggest basketball gamers of all time, specialists weren’t as excessive on James coming into the draft as they have been when his father was chosen with the No. 1 general choose in 2003. One purpose for that’s due to James’ underwhelming freshman season at USC. The guard averaged 4.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds and a pair of.1 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures under 40% from the sector. Couple that with a Trojans squad that underachieved, and it’s clear James’ first and solely season in faculty didn’t fairly go to plan.
On July 25, James collapsed after struggling cardiac arrest throughout a USC basketball follow. He was hospitalized and was in secure situation earlier than being discharged three days later. The well being scare set again what was purported to be a ramp-up to his faculty season. He wasn’t in a position to follow till late November earlier than suiting up in December to play his first collegiate recreation.
James confirmed flashes of potential through the yr. One among his greatest performances was early within the season towards Oregon State when he scored 15 factors.
The freshman scored in double-digits solely thrice. For each electrifying fast-break dunk that reminded followers and scouts of his basketball lineage got here a head-scratching shot or choice on the courtroom that warranted questions of James’ legitimacy as an NBA prospect.
“We wouldn’t be speaking about him if his title was Joe Thomas,” an NBA govt instructed the New York Put up. “Small combo guard that’s not going to develop rather more, that has an excellent really feel on find out how to play. Not an excellent ballhandler, streaky shooter, robust, vertical athlete and only a first rate defender proper now.”
Regardless of the hesitancy by many scouts and executives, historical past reveals that the sons of NBA gamers typically outplay their draft positioning.
“You do not wish to rank him excessive simply due to his father, so possibly you underrank,” an nameless Japanese Convention GM instructed Yahoo Sports activities’ Tom Haberstroh.
Haberstroh seen a pattern in gamers like Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who had a father within the league, and the way they often prove to turn out to be All-Star-caliber gamers.
“As we speak about Bronny’s candidacy, it’s value mentioning that the success of second-generation gamers like Brunson isn’t the exception; it’s the rule. Jalen Brunson (thirty third in 2018; son of Rick), Domantas Sabonis (eleventh in 2016; son of Arvydas) and Stephen Curry (seventh in 2009; son of Dell) exceeded expectations — to not point out perennial All-Stars like Kobe Bryant (thirteenth in 1996; son of Joe “Jellybean” Bryant), Klay Thompson (eleventh in 2011; son of Mychal) and Devin Booker (thirteenth in 2015; son of Melvin) weren’t even top-10 picks.”
Bronny James’ pre-draft course of had some combined messages
Many believed that James would get drafted just because his father in 2022 instructed The Athletic that he wished to play together with his son within the league earlier than he retires.
“My final yr can be performed with my son,” LeBron mentioned on the time. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s the place I’ll be. I might do no matter it takes to play with my son for one yr. It’s not concerning the cash at that time.”
LeBron has since doubled again a bit on his feedback. The 39-year-old is “off this concept of getting to play with Bronny,” based on his agent, Wealthy Paul, who can be Bronny James’ agent.
“If he does, he does. But when he does not, he does not,” Paul instructed ESPN. “There is not any deal made that it is assured that if the Lakers draft Bronny at 55, he [LeBron] will re-sign. If that was the case, I might drive them to take him at 17. We do not want leverage. The Lakers can draft Bronny and LeBron does not re-sign. LeBron can be not going to Phoenix for a minimal deal. We will squash that now. There are different groups that love Bronny.”
That is what Paul mentioned publicly. Privately might need been a unique matter. Because the second spherical performed out, former Golden State Warriors basic supervisor Bob Myers, now working as an ESPN broadcaster, mentioned Paul was calling groups and telling them if they chose Bronny, he would play in Australia as a substitute.
That implied Paul had a selected vacation spot in thoughts, which has now apparently come to go.
James completed his highschool profession at Sierra Canyon as a four-star recruit and a McDonald’s All-American. The guard averaged 14.1 factors, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals his senior yr of highschool.