TThe 2024 NBA Draft is considered one of the weakest in recent memory, lacking any generational prospects or even a consensus No. 1 overall pick when the names are called Wednesday night. But it’s generating a lot of buzz because of a 6-foot-1 guard expected to be picked late in the second round: LeBron Raymone James Jr., or Bronny James.
Bronny is a relatively unproven prospect, with just 25 games of college experience. But his decision to leave the University of Southern California after one disappointing season, hire Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports Group to represent him and run for the draft has been portrayed as some kind of nepotistic power arrangement more closely related to his father has to do with his father. skill. There is even speculation that a team could target Bronny to land LeBron, who could be an unrestricted free agent this summer and has talked about wanting to play with his son, with the Los Angeles Lakers. Reportedly “willing to explore the idea of adding Bronny James” in an effort to re-sign his father.
‘Take that bloodline away’ wrote Brendan Marks in the Athletic. “And Bronny James is a multi-year college player, someone who needs to continue to hone his skills.”
But what gets lost in the discourse surrounding Bronny James is that he is Bronny James, the son of LeBron James – arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, and one of the greatest professional athletes ever. LeBron has faced an unprecedented amount of criticism since his youth and managed to handle it all mostly calmly while winning championships with three different organizations.
For some reason, that’s framed as if it’s a hindrance to Bronny – and the team that drafts him – when it could be the biggest competitive advantage in the draft.
“Every basketball purist recognizes that [LeBron’s] track record and knowledge of the game are second to none,” said basketball analyst and coach David Thorpe writes. “We can only guess that he passed on some of that knowledge to his children. Full access to LeBron’s brain is like a cheat code for Bronny.”
Of course, being LeBron’s son will also come with pressure, because unless he becomes the greatest player of all time, Bronny will be overshadowed by his father’s achievements. Plus, his presence will bring extra attention to whichever team he ends up on.
But Bronny has had 19 years to understand the burden that comes with his surname, after his play has been scrutinized since the age of 10. That’s when LeBron called up college teams stop recruiting bronnylater saying that he regretted naming his eldest son after himself because of the pressure this put on him.
The other side of the coin is that Bronny has the best support system imaginable; that he has the infrastructure to help him have a long career in the NBA because he is in the league forever and will never lack mentorship (his godfather is Chris Paul), trainers, facilities, good advice or anything otherwise resources that novices need to succeed.
It’s no coincidence that the league is filled with children of former NBA players, with a record 34 last season. In fact, new research suggests that second-generation athletes are vastly underestimated coming out of the draft, with the 68 draftees whose fathers played in the NBA since 1989 exceeding their expected value at their draft slot by 30%. The Golden State Warriors built the greatest backcourt of all time based on this philosophy, drafting Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, while fellow All-Stars like Domantas Sabonis, Andrew Wiggins, Jalen Brunson, Devin Booker and Al Horford all learned from the experiences of their fathers. in the competition.
Bronny is an interesting prospect in his own right. He got off to a strong start to his high school career at Sierra Canyon as a point guard before the Covid-19 pandemic and torn meniscus surgery derailed his sophomore season, when his ranking dropped significantly.
However, Bronny rebounded and played a major role in his senior year, averaging 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals while leading Sierra Canyon to a 23-11 record . He also had an excellent summer with his AAU team and was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit. At the time, ESPN had him selected at No. 10 in their 2024 mock draft because of “the quantum leap he has made… developing into perhaps the best perimeter defender in his high school class while making strides in his perimeter shooting and playmaking skills.”
Bronny committed to USC in May 2023 and decided to stay close to home. Before the season even started, Bronny collapsed to the floor at the Galen Center during a USC training session and it was later revealed that he had gone into cardiac arrest due to a congenital heart defect, raising questions about whether the then-18-year-old or not old would ever play basketball again.
“It was definitely a difficult time.” Bronnie said about passion. “But all the work I put in really made me someone who would never give up, and it paid off. I put in work after that situation and am back where I want to be.
He added, “I feel like my parents were a big factor in believing in me and giving me the love and affection that I needed at that time. I still think about everything that could happen, but I love the game so much that it just overwhelms me.”
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Less than five months removed from cardiac arrest, Bronny made his collegiate debut for the Trojans, coming off the bench in 19 of his 25 games as a defensive specialist playing primarily off the ball, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. and 0.8 steals in 19.4 minutes per game. Despite having good mechanics, Bronny struggled with his jump shot, hitting just 26.7% of his threes for a disappointing USC team that went 15-18 and failed to make the NCAA Tournament.
Because of those disappointing 25 college games, the narrative surrounding Bronny has focused on his unclear positional fit as an undersized guard who will have to play primarily off the ball without an elite jump shot. But as is so often the case in design, the focus was on what Bronny can’t do, rather than what he can do. And since Bronny will end up somewhere in the second round no matter what, it’s worth noting that he possesses many of the traits that ultimately determine whether a role player has what it takes to stay in the league.
With a 6-foot wingspan and strong defensive instincts, Bronny has a clear understanding of what role he is likely to play. point at Davion Mitchell, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White as players he hopes to emulate. Like his father, he also has a selfless disposition on the court that suggests he’s an “excellent teammate who communicates at a very high level and seems obsessed with playing the right way and making winning plays,” according to ESPN.
Bronny has also shown resilience and overcome an incredible amount of criticism, games are canceled because of hecklersthe pandemic, a torn meniscus, ESPN teams following his high school team, cardiac arrest just to play in the NBA.
The NBA draft is a mess, especially in the second round, as teams start to focus on players who can stick around instead of trying to find future stars. It is rare for these conscripts to contribute, with just 25% of the 56 players picked in the second round of the past two drafts became rotation players, while 27% of them are no longer in the NBA.
And if you listen to NBA players — especially those who have been around the longest without becoming stars — the ability to stick around is much less about skills that come out of the draft than it is about intangibles: factors like professionalism, a lack of ego, listening to your colleagues, a strong work ethic, the ability to stay out of trouble and learning how to excel in a limited role. In an age of constant distraction, the mental side of the game is more important than ever.
“It’s the little things,” LeBron said on television Mind the Game Podcast when asked what rookies need to do to succeed in the NBA. “Coaches and veterans can get into it and there’s no sniggering, there’s no talking back, there’s no ‘ahhh’, things like that. It’s almost like, just keep at it, because… I’m absorbing everything. Then you know: oh, he will continue to play in this league for a long time.’
Garrett Temple, an undrafted 14-year NBA veteran, agrees. “A lack of professionalism will get you out of the competition faster than any lack of talent.” he told Andscape“Make sure they have a support system around you that tells you when you’re wrong.”
Will Bronny be a standout NBA player in his rookie year? Probably not. Nineteen year olds rarely are. Will he ever make an All-Star team? Almost certainly not. Is he anywhere near as talented as his father? No. But like other sons of NBA players who came before him, Bronny has a built-in edge and is solid enough to not be out of place next to professionals. And if a team in the second round wants a role player who can have a long career in the NBA, there is no safer bet than Bronny James.