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After USC’s 2023-24 season came to an end on Thursday with a loss to Arizona in the Pac-12 tournament, many are wondering about the future of Bronny James.
While it’s not yet clear if James will enter the 2024 NBA draft, an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN’s Jeremy Woo that teams will undoubtedly be interested in selecting him for the prospect of pairing him with his legendary father, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, no matter how slim the chances of adding him to their roster.
“I think everyone is preparing for him to go in the draft, and I’m dead serious — I think a lot of teams will take the stance that they’ll draft him if there’s a 1% chance LeBron will join them,” the exec said. “So, I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t enter. Will he stay in, I don’t know.”
The elder James has a $51.4 million player option on his contract for the 2024-25 season, and he has until June 29 to decide whether he will exercise it or opt out and test free agency. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said last month that there are indications that the 39-year-old is “angling to sign a multi-year deal in the offseason with the Lakers that will be nine figures.”
Bronny appeared in 25 games for the Trojans and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He made his season debut in December after suffering cardiac arrest during a July workout that led to the discovery of a congenital heart defect.
Despite his nondescript freshman season, Bronny is still regarded as a gifted athlete and skilled defender who can develop into a productive player. While it would likely benefit him to remain in college for another year, the chance of sharing the court with his father could be too enticing to pass up.
It’s no secret that LeBron is nearing the end of his career, so perhaps drafting Bronny will give teams a larger chance than expected to sign the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
“A team would have to have room or have assets the Lakers would want, and I don’t see that as likely, but I think there will be teams that will take that approach,” the exec said.