The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft has ended, but former USC basketball guard Bronny James has yet to hear his name called. However, James has a possibility of being selected in the second round on Thursday night. ESPN expert Stephen A. Smith identified two potential destinations for the skilled guard, and the Los Angeles Lakers were unexpectedly not one of them.
Smith is wary of suggestions that James could join the Lakers. He believes that playing on the same team as his father, LeBron James, and new head coach JJ Redick may be a distraction that all parties involved would benefit from avoiding. Smith also identified the Denver Nuggets and the Philadelphia 76ers as potential suitors for James. He discussed his rationale with New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum on an edition of First Take.
“When I think of Bronny strictly from a basketball standpoint, Denver and Philadelphia come to mind.” Simply because [their] primary offensive option is their bigs. They are the focus point, so [James], as a guard coming off the bench renowned more for his defensive brilliance than his offensive abilities, has the opportunity to learn more,” Smith told First Take.
Smith believes James will have less pressure with the Nuggets or 76ers because they do not expect him to score as much. James may use his defensive skills to make an impact and grow with the organizations. On the other hand, Smith believes James will do well for the Lakers if he is assigned to the G-League.
It will be intriguing to see which team selects James in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Why Bronny James Has a Bright NBA Future
Bronny James takes part in the 2024 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks.
Bronny James’ collegiate offensive campaign was unexpected given his high school statistics. James went from scoring 13.8 points per game during his senior year at Sierra Canyon to only 4.8 points per game in 19 minutes with the USC basketball squad. In addition, he hit only 26 percent on three-pointers. However, James’ freshman year statistics do not tell the complete tale.
The former McDonald’s All-American experienced a life-altering health scare the summer before his first college season. James experienced a heart arrest during a USC practice in July 2023. Fortunately, he recovered and returned to the court later in the autumn. He understandably struggled to rediscover his flow, but his 2024 NBA Draft Combine performance persuaded scouts that he was a promising professional potential.
During the Combine, James recorded a 40-and-a-half-inch max vertical leap and performed admirably in the pro lane agility drills. He improved his athleticism and defensive draw, but he also raised his profile by excelling in shooting exercises and scoring 13 points in his second scrimmage.
James and scouts feel he can have the same impact on teams as Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Davion Mitchell. James’ defensive instincts and improving offensive abilities should be extremely beneficial to an NBA team. Furthermore, James has one of the most sought-after basketball minds in his entourage, his father, LeBron James.
Will James’ name be called on Thursday night during the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft?
