Bronny James’s agent has announced that he will remain in the 2024 NBA draft. Rich Paul shared in an interview with ESPN that the 19-year-old has chosen to pursue basketball over college.
“Bronny’s [draft] range is wide,” Paul told ESPN. “He’s a really good prospect who has a lot of room for growth. It only takes one team. I don’t care where that team is — it can be No. 1 or 58 — [but] I do care about the plan, the development. The team’s strategy, the opportunity and the financial commitment. That’s why I’m not doing a two-way deal. Every team understands that.”
Bronny, the son of basketball legend and NBA’s all-time leading scorer LeBron James, declared for the draft in April. At the NBA draft combine, he impressed by scoring 13 points in a scrimmage and securing second place in two 3-point shooting drills.
During his one year of college basketball as a USC freshman guard, Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Although he missed the start of the season due to health issues, he managed to participate in 25 games. A mid-workout cardiac arrest revealed a congenital heart problem that required surgery. Since his treatment, he has been cleared for NBA play.
LeBron James proudly shared the announcement on Instagram, captioning his story: “BRONNY STAYING IN DRAFT!”
If that happens, then this father-son duo would be the first to play in the league at the same time. The NBA holds 100 records of sons joining the league after their fathers, but none have happened simultaneously.
As LeBron begins his 22nd season in the league this fall with the option of becoming a free agent, there is a possibility they could end up on the same team. Many teams would relish that opportunity. Regarding Bronny’s career prospects, LeBron commented,
“The kid has to do what he wants to do — and I don’t even want to say kid no more — the young man will decide what he wants to do and how he wants his career to go.”
