LeBron James Responds to Bronny's NBA Draft Projection

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

LeBron James recently commented on the chatter surrounding his son Bronny's NBA potential. In response to a report that ESPN removed Bronny from its 2024 NBA mock draft, LeBron wrote on social media, 'Can y’all please just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball.' He emphasized that the work and results will speak for themselves, and Bronny doesn't pay attention to mock drafts.

LeBron encouraged other young athletes to stay focused, work hard, and ignore the noise of mock drafts. He believes that mock drafts don't matter and only the hard work and dedication of the players are important. He expressed his desire to see young players focus on real basketball instead of getting caught up in speculation.

The Los Angeles Lakers have shown interest in adding Bronny James to their roster in the future. LeBron has been vocal about his desire to play with his son before he retires from the NBA. Bronny, a freshman at USC, has been averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game this season.

Is Bronny a legitimate NBA Draft prospect?

While Bronny James has potential as a legitimate NBA Draft prospect in the future, he still has room for improvement. His athleticism, length, and defensive intensity make him a strong perimeter defender, and he has shown improvement as a perimeter shooter. However, he is an undersized guard with limited ball-handling skills and struggles to create opportunities on offense. He needs to work on his ability to penetrate defenses and create his own shots at the rim.

Based on his current skill set, NBA draft writer Sam Vecenie does not list Bronny in his 2024 NBA Mock Draft. He believes that it would be too difficult for scouts to buy into the potential improvement needed for Bronny to be a draftable prospect in the near future.

Should Bronny enter the draft despite his current skill level?

The decision of whether or not Bronny James should enter the NBA Draft is ultimately a family decision. If it's important to him and his family that he plays with LeBron on an NBA court, LeBron's influence could potentially help get him drafted. However, there are concerns about the lack of necessary on-ball reps and opportunities for development at the professional level. It may be more beneficial for Bronny to continue his development at the college level or transfer to a different school that better fosters his growth, similar to the path taken by Devin Carter.

Devin Carter, the son of former NBA player Anthony Carter, started his college career at South Carolina before transferring to Providence. He showcased his defensive skills, took advantage of offensive opportunities, and continued to improve his game each season. This year, he has become one of the best players in college basketball and is projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming draft.