Bronny James – the son of NBA nice LeBron James – has entered each the 2024 NBA Draft, and the NCAA switch protocol, which means no matter what is going on to occur, USC is not prone to see probably the most well-known teenage basketball gamers on the earth go well with up for them once more.

For James, getting into the draft does not essentially imply lots. Prospects can at all times take away their identify earlier than the draft, sustaining their draft eligibility, in the event that they really feel they don’t seem to be getting good suggestions in exercises, or through the mix.

In fact, that is the place a layer of great complexity throws James off that path.

For years, James has been rumored to seek out himself taking part in subsequent to his dad, LeBron, because of the latter’s near-constant reminder of his want of taking part in on the identical as his son.

As LeBron stays probably the most influential gamers within the league, and an All-NBA caliber participant, it stands to purpose that some groups would possibly present James with constructive suggestions throughout exercises, completely to see him motivated to maintain his identify within the draft. In that case, a workforce may in concept choose him extremely, with the expectation of LeBron signing in free company to satisfy his dream of sharing the courtroom along with his son.

Primarily, there is a state of affairs in play right here the place groups who may not even be all that curious about James, are keen to pick him excessive within the draft for causes that don’t have anything to do with him. As a result of, on the finish of the day, if the choice og James leads on to LeBron signing, it is price relinquishing the prospect of drafting somebody higher.

As a result of there are higher gamers.

James, who performed 25 video games in his freshman season at USC, averaged simply 4.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds, and a pair of.1 assists on the 12 months, taking part in slightly below 20 minutes, and hitting a disappointing 36.6% from the sphere.

James was coming off a cardiac arrest occasion, which can also be positive to be famous as a serious pink medial flag in his report, which may clarify his modest manufacturing.

No matter what precipitated his play to be much less spectacular than anticipated, NBA groups aren’t precisely drooling on the concept of a participant who’s clearly years away from being a authentic prospect.

Moreover, there’s an moral dilemma in play as nicely.

Choosing the companies of a younger participant based mostly virtually completely off his father’s deserves is not precisely a praise to James himself. The truth is, it turns him right into a nepotism choice, which James has by no means requested to change into.

For LeBron to doubtlessly dictate the draft slot space of his son appears on some stage unfair to the youthful James, who assuredly would want to be confirmed off his personal accord.

In fact, nothing is written in stone fairly but. James may return to varsity, discover a new faculty, and spend the subsequent few years growing, till he is prepared for the NBA – if he ever is.

That appears unlikely on condition that LeBron is 39 years outdated, and is inching nearer to the top of his profession. The faster the 2 share the ground, the faster LeBron can journey off into the sundown, which suggests it is in all probability not lengthy earlier than James finds himself absolutely immersed within the draft waters, going into June with a go well with, able to shake the hand of league commissioner Adam Silver.

At any time when that’s, be it this 12 months or later, the scenario is in some ways awkward, and even uncomfortable. The draft is understood for being an try at having the perfect gamers be chosen first, and if James stays within the draft, that may virtually undoubtedly break with that method.

Except famous in any other case, all stats through NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleansing the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All wage info through Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.