Bronny James, son of Lakers star LeBron, is invited to NBA combine as league releases full list of 78 invitees
- Bronny is not expected to be selected in the first round in next month’s NBA Draft
- The now 39-year-old LeBron has long indicated that he wants to play in the NBA with his son
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Bronny James, son of Lakers star LeBron James, was one of 78 players invited to the NBA combine.
The combination typically produces a majority of players who will be taken in the NBA Draft, although there are only 60 picks.
This year marks the first time that if you decline a combined invitation, you will not be eligible to be drafted.
There are exceptions, the biggest of which is competing for another professional team abroad mid-season, as is the case for Zaccharie Risacher and Nikola Topic, both of whom are expected to finish in the top 10.
In ESPN’s final mock draft, Bronny was not picked in the first round.
LeBron just finished season No. 21 in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers in a first-round exit
Bronny is also in the transfer portal this month in addition to testing the NBA Draft waters
The 19-year-old James played in 25 games for USC this season, averaging just 19.4 minutes per game.
He didn’t light up the stats with the Trojans like he did at powerhouse Sierra Canyon High School. James averaged just 4.8 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Andy Enfield, Bronny’s first-year coach at USC, has since taken over at SMU and Eric Musselman is now in charge of the Trojans. In addition to testing the NBA Draft waters, James has also put his name in the transfer portal.
It has long been a goal of LeBron James to play in the NBA with his son. And with the Lakers legend turning 40 in December, the chances of that happening are slim.
The elder James hasn’t shown many physical signs of slowing down, averaging 25.7 points this past season, good enough for 13th in the NBA.
James will be assigned season No. 22 in the NBA and he has until June to make a decision about next year.
He can opt for a $51.4 million deal, the second year of a $99 million contract he signed before this season. Or James could become a free agent and possibly play for a fourth NBA team.
The combine will be held May 12-19 in Chicago, while the first round of the NBA Draft will take place on June 26 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The second round will take place on June 27 from Manhattan.