Here's when we'll know if Bronny James is staying in the NBA Draft

Bronny James has a big decision to make and not a whole lot of time to make it.

The good news for the eldest son of LeBron James is that he's been medically cleared to continue pursuing his pro basketball dreams. 

According to ESPN, the physicians on the NBA's Fitness to Play Panel have unanimously given their approval for James to be part of the upcoming NBA Draft, and he's expected to take part in the predraft combine this week.

That was a big step for James to clear, as he's only nine months removed from going into cardiac arrest during practice ahead of his freshman season at USC. He was later cleared to play and appeared in 25 games for the Trojans, starting six and averaging 4.8 points per game.

The big question now is whether he'll remain part of the draft pool or head back to college hoops for next season, and the answer has several moving pieces. 

First and foremost is whether the opportunity to play with his dad is still on the table. While he's softened his public statements about the idea ever so slightly in recent months, LeBron has long been thought to be seeking a chance to team with Bronny in the NBA.

LeBron has a player option for the 2024-25 season, and the Los Angeles Lakers want him to return. The Athletic's Shams Charania recently told Pat McAfee that the Lakers would consider drafting Bronny with their second-round pick, No. 55 overall, to entice LeBron to come back for his 22nd NBA campaign.

But LeBron has also stated that Bronny needs to make his own decision about what's next for him, which could mean playing more college basketball if he learns during the predraft process that teams believe it could help make him a higher draft pick in 2025. That doesn't necessarily mean at USC, either, as Bronny entered the transfer portal last month. 

That's a lot to consider for the James family, and if Bronny decides to remain in the NBA Draft, it could be a signal that he's received assurances he'll be selected — most likely by the Lakers. 

The one thing for certain is that he only has until Wednesday, May 29, to figure it all out, as that's the last day he could withdraw from the draft while retaining his eligibility to play college basketball.