LeBron James Responds to Bronny Draft Projection

LeBron James on Bronny draft projection: 'Let the kid be a kid'

LeBron James recently took to social media to address the chatter surrounding his son Bronny's readiness for the NBA. In response to a report that ESPN removed Bronny from its 2024 NBA mock draft and projected him for the 2025 draft instead, LeBron wrote, 'Can y'all please just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball.' He stressed that the work and results will speak for themselves, regardless of what the mock drafts say.

LeBron encouraged other aspiring young players to stay focused on their goals and not worry about mock drafts. He expressed that the only thing that matters is hard work and dedication, emphasizing the importance of focusing on real basketball. His post also hinted at his desire to play alongside his son before his own NBA career comes to an end.

The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly expressed interest in adding Bronny James to their roster in order to secure LeBron's services. However, based on his current performance at USC, where he is a freshman averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, it appears that Bronny still has room for growth and development before potentially entering the NBA.

Is Bronny a legitimate NBA Draft prospect?

While Bronny James has shown potential as a perimeter defender and has improved as a shooter, NBA draft writer Sam Vecenie does not consider him a draftable prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft. Vecenie highlights Bronny's current limitations as an undersized guard with limited ball-handling skills and struggles to create opportunities for himself at the rim. He suggests that Bronny would benefit from staying at USC or transferring to another school to further develop his game, similar to the path taken by Devin Carter, son of former NBA player Anthony Carter.

Why has Bronny James never been a first-round pick on 2024 mock drafts at The Athletic?

Vecenie explains that the evaluation of Bronny's game and his performance this season have contributed to his absence from first-round projections. While some NBA evaluators believed he had one-and-done potential, the majority saw him as a multi-year college player with potential upside. Vecenie also acknowledges that Bronny's recovery from a cardiac arrest last summer may have affected his basketball development and performance.

However, the decision to enter the NBA Draft ultimately rests with Bronny and his family. If playing alongside his father is a priority for them, LeBron's influence in the league could potentially secure a team to draft Bronny regardless of his current skill level. However, Vecenie suggests that Bronny's development may be better served by staying in college rather than pursuing immediate on-court opportunities in the NBA.

Updated NBA Power Rankings and Rookie Check-In

In this week's NBA Power Rankings, Zach Harper provides an update on the rookie class of the 2023 draft, including Chet Holmgren. Harper ranks all 30 teams and categorizes them into different tiers based on their current performance and outlook. He also emphasizes that the rankings are subjective and based on his own discretion.

Harper highlights the success and struggles of various teams, including the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and LA Clippers. He also discusses the potential of the rookies and second-round picks in this season's draft class. Harper invites readers to have fun with the rankings and enjoy the analysis.