Bronny James may be the son of basketball royalty but he’s got a long way to go before he’s a core part of any professional team. According to the latest projections from scouts, Bronny’s upside compared to veterans like Patrick Beverley and other small, defensive-oriented guards.
“James projects as more of a disrupter,” Kevin O’Connor wrote. “Comparisons that came up in these conversations include Patrick Beverley, Davion Mitchell, and Norris Cole. Beverley has had the longest career of the three because he’s the best shooter (37 percent from 3 in his career). Mitchell has yet to figure out his shot with the Kings, while Cole won two titles with LeBron [James] in Miami before flaming out, in part because his shot never developed. But all three of them were respectable defenders. Bronny will have to follow in their footsteps to catch on with a winning team.”
Bronny, 19, recently joined the transfer portal before announcing his eligibility for the 2024 Draft. With the path open to either stay in college or join the NBA, James will have almost full control of his basketball future this summer. But after a rocky debut for USC, where he averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on 36% shooting, there is a growing belief that Bronny may be better off postponing his NBA ambitions than heading straight to the pros.
But despite his low numbers, James still has skills to offer at the NBA level. His great instincts and advanced understanding of the game give him an advantage against foes, as does his perimeter defense, which is touted as, arguably, his best attribute of all. Comparisons to Patrick Beverley and Norris Cole may not sound flattering to most, but they found success in the NBA despite their limited scoring — and so can Bronny in the right situation.
Only James knows what direction he wants to go next season, but the hierarchy of the NBA itself could be changed depending on his decision and if his dad chooses to follow. But until we know for sure where he’s going, the entire NBA community will be on watch for any hints of which way he’s leaning.
Bronny James Is The Perfect Solution For The Lakers
Even in a historically weak draft class, there are doubts that Bronny is a top-60 prospect. While most project him to be an early second-round pick, at best, he could fall into the 40s or 50s as the picks get more and more risky.
For the Lakers, they don't have a whole lot of picks this summer and they will only have a narrow window to draft Bronny. Even so, he’s probably the best option for them in this draft class. LeBron said himself earlier this season that his son can play for the Lakers right now and they desperately need some help in the backcourt.
As a young, smart, and athletic young guard with sharp instincts, the Lakers could do worse with their pick. At the very least, it would keep LeBron James happy and give him yet another reason to stay with the Lakers past this season.
As for the future development of Bronny’s game, we’ve seen plenty of young players break out into stars after an unimpressive college debut. If James can land in the right situation and learn the ropes from his dad in real-time, it could be all he needs to reach beyond expectations and reach his ultimate potential in the NBA.
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