The 2023 NBA Draft took place less than a week ago, but draft nuts in any sport are a special breed. It’s never too early for them to look ahead toward next year and predict what is going to happen, even though they know damn well that things are going to change significantly between now and then. Most recently, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN took a stab at a way too early 2024 mock draft, and they had the Hawks landing the most popular prospect in the class with the 17th pick — Bronny James.
I’m not sure there’s an NBA Draft expert that believes Bronny James will be one of the top picks in the draft. Most believe he’ll be a fringe first-round pick with the potential to work his way into the lottery with a big season as a freshman at USC.
At 6-3 and 190 pounds, Bronny is far from the physical presence that his father was coming out of high school. He was often overshadowed by the other star high school players on his team at Sierra Canyon, but he really improved his game as a senior and turned heads at the McDonalds All-American Game, which now has NBA scouts believing he can potentially become a coveted two-way player at the next level, earning him first-round buzz.
Bronny showcases formidable shooting skills and has honed his capabilities as an all-around scorer. His remarkable passing ability empowers him to play either as a point guard or shooting guard. However, what has caught the eye of numerous NBA scouts is his defense, potentially distinguishing him from his peers in his draft class and propelling him into the lottery selections. Of course, his drafting position will ultimately hinge on his performance during his freshman year at USC, where he will be arguably the most high-profile athlete in the history of college basketball.
Of course, the wrinkle in all of this is that whoever drafts Bronny may also get a chance to acquire Lebron James. He’s on record saying that his last year playing basketball will be with his son, which if true, could result in Bronny going much higher than anticipated. But regardless of if Lebron plays long enough to take the court with his son, having his presence around the organization could be hugely beneficial, given his relationships with stars around the league.
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