Bronny James alongside his father LeBron in the NBA? This drives the superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers further and in just over a year Bronny could actually be drafted. We look at the strengths and weaknesses of the guard.
The prestigious McDonald’s All American Game between the best high school players in the country will take place again on Wednesday night. There are already big discussions in the USA. The bone of contention is LeBron James Jr., better known as Bronny, who will also participate 20 years after his father. James also received an invitation for the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland in just over two weeks.
This is quite astonishing given that Bronny is not found in the top 30 players in the country on most catchy sites. “I don’t want to sound negative, but if he wasn’t LeBron’s son and I hadn’t seen him at another high school, I would say he’s a good player but one of a lot in California,” said Frank Burlison, who Is part of the committee that selected the players.
Although Burlison pushed afterwards that Bronny was a good player, the headline was already written. It’s not easy being the son of LeBron James and being watched by the public ever since. James Sr. himself did not always cut the best figure when he always publicly stated that he wanted to play with his son at the end of his career.
Bronny James: ESPN sees him as a lottery pick
Bronny James is just not your typical NBA prospect. He’s the son of a billionaire, one of the greatest players of all time, has 7 million Instagram followers (that would be enough for the top 20 in the NBA) and, most of the time, wherever Bronny shows up, a smartphone isn’t far away. In the fall, Bronny signed sponsorship deals with Beats by Dre and Nike, making him the highest-paid high school athlete in the country.
Of course, the name helped, but James has blossomed into one of the best basketball players in his class during his senior season. That was not foreseeable, just over a year ago James was only around 60th place. Almost all draft experts now emphasize that Bronny is rather underestimated. ESPN James now even ranks 10th in the 2024 Mock Draft.
Bronny James: Seine Stats 22/23
Bronny James: College, G-League – or Australia?
A lot can of course still happen before then. It’s still unclear where James will play next season. USC, Oregon and Ohio State have officially filed bids. The Australian NBL is also courting the 18-year-old with its “Next stars program”, a path LaMelo Ball once chose.
“We made contact and talks have already taken place,” said league boss Larry Kestelman in January. “But these are still in the early stages and there is only a small chance. But we will keep trying.” Another possibility would be the program of the G-League Ignite, which has already produced some lottery picks with Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga or Dyson Daniels.
The rumor mill is churning, with many seeing USC as the favorite as it allows James to remain close to his family in Los Angeles. Years ago it seemed impossible that LeBron’s son would ever play college, but the parameters have changed somewhat with the NIL program, with which students can conclude sponsorship deals.
Bronny James: The Scouting Report
So much for theory, but what actually makes Bronny James an NBA prospect? Suffice to say, despite all the hype surrounding the name, Bronny is a pretty good basketball player.
Bronny James: Starches
- Bronny impresses above all with his defense. It could be seen at times that opposing teams would actively avoid involving James in action as he is one of the best high school defensemen in the country. Bronny has fast hands, can navigate screens and has the athletic ability to stay ahead of his opponents. There are also classic chasedown blocks that are very reminiscent of his father.
- He’s also a very clever player who knows where to stand and how to rotate. The high basketball IQ can also be seen at the other end of the field. James moves the ball quickly, makes the right plays. Here and there the talent flashes to play passes that many others just can’t do.
- Over the years, his throw has also become a trump card. James throws in a 35-footer here and there, but his main strength is the catch-and-shoot three-pointer, both standing and on the move. This is where James has made great strides over his high school years and can make the right decision even when the throw isn’t available.
- With his athleticism, he is also a good player in transition. The body should already be NBA-ready, which is not surprising. After all, thanks to his father, the 18-year-old has everything he needs for a professional basketball career.
Bronny James: Weaknesses
- James is not a dominant offensive player, nor is he a lead guard. Bronny’s ball handling remains improvable, which is why he mostly acted off the ball at Sierra Canyon, which should also be his role for the future. Sometimes there is a lack of aggressiveness to seek one’s own conclusion and to attack the defense.
- Above all, a solid pull-up jumper is missing here, which could bring more variation into play. When James attacks, he usually looks for the basket or plays the kickout, while the throw does not fall despite solid mechanics from the dribbling. This is definitely a skill James needs to work on. Despite his good body, he leaves a lot behind with contact near the basket.
- His size of “only” a good 1.90 meters also plays a role here. This can actually be a problem because Bronny is neither a real point guard nor a real shooter. Maybe Bronny will add a centimeter or two to that.
Bronny James: Is it enough for the NBA?
There’s definitely a case for Bronny as a top 10 pick, like ESPN ranks him, at the same time also some against it. Draft experts don’t see the 24-year-olds as strong, which is probably why James is ranked so highly. At the same time, James has a lot that indicates a solid NBA player.
He’s a good defender who can hit threes up front and provide secondary playmaking. Bronny himself knows his role, despite his “star status” he also played it in Sierra Canyon. Why should it be any different in the NBA? Dedicated to serving the team, James is the classic glue guy, moving the ball and making the right plays. That’s valuable, even if Bronny doesn’t really have all-star potential. Nevertheless, the fact that LeBron could one day be on the field with his son does not have to be just a dream.
