Bronny James 2024 NBA Draft Profile

Bronny James is one of the most talked about and controversial NBA draft prospects of the class. While being the son of Lebron James certainly has its advantages, it is sure to bring criticism as well.

Bronny James 2024 NBA Draft Profile

Early career

James was a top recruit coming out of Sierra Canyon High School in California. He was ranked as the 20th most promising player in the country according to the ESPN 100. James decided to stay in Los Angeles for college and play for USC. However, his college career did not start smoothly. In late July, James suffered cardiac arrest during a team practice due to a congenital heart defect. However, it was a relief to later hear that the condition was treatable and James could expect a full recovery. Despite this, James missed the first eight games of the season.

Back on the court, James definitely struggled to find his rhythm on an overall struggling USC team. He played 25 games in total and averaged 19.4 minutes per game. James' final stats were certainly a popular topic of discussion when considering a potential NBA draft prospect. He finished the season averaging 4.8 points, 2.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game.

Strengthen

One of James' less controversial strengths is his transferable athleticism. He posted a 40.5-inch vertical throw that was good enough for the top six at the NBA Combine. He also posted slightly above-average times on the Shuttle Run and Lane Agility drills, finishing in the top 25 both times. Aside from those numbers, all of James' other strengths are considered “projected” strengths, meaning they are unproven. He posted the second-highest score on the Star Shooting drill, hitting 19 of 25 threes. That's a very good performance, but admittedly the true value of that drill is a debatable topic. However, his score combined with good athletic testing helps James establish himself as a two-way role player at the NBA level.

James' commitment to this role player-based projection is another underrated strength. It's well documented that James has said he'd like to resemble NBA players Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Davion Mitchell. All three players have made a living by excelling on defense and complementing other stars on their respective rosters. That James has the mindset to do whatever he can to compliment an NBA team is definitely a positive. Finally, his basketball IQ and feel for the game also help this projection. It's a small sample size, but he averaged 2.2 assists per game compared to just 1.1 turnovers.

weaknesses

While James hopes to become a solid role player similar to the above names, his current performance is certainly cause for concern. Holiday, White, and Mitchell all performed much better on both offense and defense after graduating from college. Many people want to become an ideal NBA player, but it is usually performance or outstanding physical attributes that set candidates apart. James does not possess the athletic profile usually associated with “promising” prospects, nor the statistical performance that justifies such a distinction on paper.

An example of this, and a weakness pointed out at the NBA Combine, is James's size at 6'2″. The NBA is a tough league for small guards, especially those who aren't elite scorers or shooters. Given his measured size, there will be concerns about whether he can meet his role player-based projections. This is especially true given James' lack of on-ball experience and playmaking. At nearly every level of play, he has operated primarily on the wing as an off-ball player rather than a primary ball handler. However, given his size, it might be difficult for teams to justify minutes on the wing for James.

NBA comparison

James' best chance at the next level currently looks to be a role player who can impact the game on both ends as a complementary guard. Aside from the players previously mentioned, this would be a prime example of De'Anthony Melton or Jalen Suggs. All of these players performed much better at the college level. However, in the right situation, James will hope to be a good rotation guard on both ends of the court.

2024 NBA Draft Projection

Second round to undrafted