USC freshman Bronny James’ decision to enter the 2024 NBA draft appears to be based on the teams interested in him rather than the pick that he’ll be selected with.
Rich Paul, the agent and longtime friend of LeBron James, weighed in on the choice that the younger James will make.
“I don’t value a young player getting into the lottery as much as I do getting him on the right team in the right developmental situation,” Paul said on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The ideal situation for Bronny could be on a team that his father isn’t playing for, despite the elder James’ interest in sharing the court with his son in the NBA.
The 19-year-old has struggled to maintain his efficiency as he’s moved back and forth between the starting lineup and the bench, averaging 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game before Saturday’s action while shooting 37.4 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three.
James didn’t fare much better against Washington on Saturday, attempting just one shot in 14 minutes off the bench while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out two assists. It’s worth noting that he didn’t make his college debut until Dec. 10 as he recovered from suffering a cardiac arrest during a workout in July. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
If there isn’t an NBA team or situation that he feels comfortable with, he could return to college for his sophomore year. That way, James would be able to go through a normal offseason and avoid joining his teammates on the floor just over a month into the season. It isn’t difficult to imagine his shooting percentages increasing in that scenario, too.
