LeBron James' Son Bronny 'Nowhere Near Ready' For NBA Says GM, Future Hall Of Famer Disagrees
LeBron James Jr. has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft but is he ready for the big league? One GM thinks he's not.
"Bronny is nowhere near ready," an NBA general manager told The Ringer on the condition of anonymity.
On Friday, Bronny James announced he would be entering the NBA Draft after just one season with the University of Southern California Trojans. He is also maintaining his college eligibility and will instead enter the NCAA transfer portal.
The news has left some fans and critics questioning whether LeBron James' eldest son's skillset is enough for him to play in the Association.
"He should go back to school to develop at his own pace or he risks getting lost in the shuffle, whether or not he's playing with his dad," the GM added.
(Photo : Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
With six starts in 25 games as a freshman, Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes of play for the Trojans. He also started late in the season, in December, after suffering a cardiac arrest in July 2023.
"There are probably three rounds' worth of prospects more talented than Bronny in this class," the anonymous GM explained.
"So picking Bronny is more about getting LeBron's attention right now than it is about developing Bronny himself."
However, there's one future Hall of Famer who believes Bronny is ready to join his dad in the NBA.
Four-time All-Star and former Best Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green believes LBJ Jr. is an "NBA-level defender."
"Bronny 100% will be a successful player in the NBA. Number one, he knows how to work," Green said on his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show."
"I also think it's a smart move for him to go in this NBA Draft ... I definitely think Bronny will be a successful NBA player."
While Bronny still has a few weeks left to test the NBA Draft waters and see if he's truly equipped for the professional league, one thing's for sure, dad LeBron will be supporting him every step of the way.
"As his family, we're going to support whatever he does," James said in March.
The NBA Draft 2024 will be held on June 26-27, 2024 in New York. The event has expanded into a two-day format, with the first round hosted at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and the second round at ESPN's Seaport District Studios.
