Bronny James — NBA Draft Profile
Here is my NBA Draft profile for Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, and prospect for the 2024/25 NBA draft(s).
Summary: It must be said. This is the eldest son of all time NBA leading scorer, Mr. LeBron James! But you already knew that. Bronny (the son, and prospect being discussed here) is an athletic combo guard with excellent finishing ability around the hoop and wonderful feel for the game. He is expanding his arsenal in two key areas: Outside shooting and lead guard abilities. At just 6'3" (With solid length), his success at the next level will ultimately depend on his ability to continue developing in these two areas, as well as willingness to maximize athletic tool set on the defensive end.
Strengths: Truly one of the most powerful, explosive combo guards in the class… extremely athletic — speed, leaping, strength, control… capable of highlight reel dunks as well as crafty finishes around the hoop… has a nice lay-up package…excellent in transition, both in decision making and finishing through contact… definitely an NBA-caliber athlete… can be both smooth and/or explosive on the finish, with soft touch around the hoop… shows very good ability to finish through contact at the high school level, and given his strength this should continue to translate at higher levels… loves to get to the hoops, float, hold the ball, draw the contact, and finish on the way down… outside shooting and playmaking have come a long way. Initially projected as more of an off-ball threat, but developed rapidly over the past 1–2 years (jumped from a top-50 recruit to top-25 this year) and now should be considered a legitimate lead guard option… Becoming a standout defensive player and outside shooter would raise his game to the next level that can really help any NBA team… fast baseline to baseline with solid quickness… has a nice eurostep and can put spin on the ball for creative finishes off the glass on the drive… to nitpick, his shooting form can look a bit stiff, but overall is quite good at this point… Our insider sources tell us he comes from a good family… While basketball was likely Bronny’s “default” since day one (LeBron has not kept it a secret that he wants Bronny in the NBA), he does appear to love the game and have his own internal and genuine drive to play at the highest level.
Weaknesses: A bit small for an NBA guard, and a bit light on experience as a lead / point guard. Bronny has good vision and is a smart player, and he can get to his chosen spots off the dribble. But experience at point guard is the concern for now… How is his motor? His defensive tools are there, but he has yet to get after it with the absolute ferocity and tenacity that you’d love to see from a player with his skill set. Also, he’s never been the standout best player on his team, and has never had to shoulder a huge offensive load… Does not project as an ultra-high scorer, tends to “fit in” offensively as opposed to stand out and dominate… What is his standout skill, other than his athleticism and finishing at the rim? You’d love to see him develop as a knockdown outside shooter and/or monster defender like a Gary Payton II…
Notes: Bronny had a scary incident just prior to his freshman season at USC in which he suffered a cardiac arrest at a practice. Details were understandably kept somewhat sparse. But the good news is that he is not only expected to make a full recovery, but signs point toward him making a return to the basketball court. It is unconfirmed whether he will suit up for USC this 2023–24 season at time of publishing… Bronny selected USC in what was one of the highest profile college recruitments of recent memory… Teammate at USC Isaiah Collier is a quite similar player to Bronny, so it will be interesting to see how they differentiate and find their respective niches. Collier is one of the top players in the class. Maybe USC runs something similar to the old Villanova teams that loved running lineups of three or four different 6'3" combo guards… Bronny made a huge leap in his development, going from top-50 to top-25 in his class from junior to senior year… Appears to have a solid wingspan but there has been no formal measurement… Was selected for, and then showed out in, the McDonald’s All American game, finishing with 15 points on 5–8 from 3P range. Undoubtedly was using the game to show off his improved outside shooting… Also finished second in the McDonald’s All American Dunk Contest… Played well at the Nike Hoop Summit, finishing with 11 points and playing a key role in sparking a 4th quarter run that ultimately put Team USA over the top against the World Team in the 6 point win… More about LeBron than Bronny, but: By the time this profile is published, Bronny is already older than LeBron was when he was drafted. Just crazy perspective.
