LeBron & Bronny James Hold The NBA Hostage
That is the reality that Bronny James is currently living with.
The USC freshman is easily the most popular player on his college team, even though he’s far from the best. That is what happens when your name is LeBron James Jr.
Ever since Bronny showed interest in playing basketball, one thing became abundantly clear: his father, LeBron, wanted to play with him in some capacity. The older Bronny got, the more likely an entry into the NBA became. And as Bronny’s potential rookie season grew closer, LeBron continually made public comments saying how much he wanted to not just see his son play in the league but actually wanted to play with him. Father and son, duking it out together on the court, that was LeBron’s dream.
Now here we are just weeks from the NBA draft and Bronny James’ name has been in many conversations, but not for the right reasons. Bronny’s first year with USC has been filled with ups and downs, but mostly downs. He is averaging just about five points a game after getting a late start in December due to a very serious cardiac arrest incident in the summer. Bronny has been good, not great, and nothing like dear old dad. Still, he is considered a hot commodity by multiple NBA teams. Why? Because LeBron’s desire to play with his son means that he too could be part of any team that acquires Bronny.
Bronny’s potential drafting comes at a very interesting time. In just a couple of months, LeBron’s current contract with the Los Angeles Lakers could come to an end because he has a player option after this season, meaning he can choose to ride it out with LA for another year or head off to a different location in the league. It goes without saying that just about any team would leap at the chance to sign the four-time champion and future Hall of Famer.
In this way, the Jameses are holding the entire league hostage. Because LeBron could pack his bags and travel with his son to a location, interest in the young player is growing. The Lakers are apparently aware of how seriously LeBron takes the idea of playing with his son and they have reportedly made plans to try and sign Bronny this June at the draft.
Does Bronny even deserve a spot in the league right now? ESPN recently released a mock draft for this year and LeBron’s son wasn’t even on the list. Instead, he was seen as a second-round pick for 2025, showing that he’s not quite ready for primetime.
No matter, because of his father’s public statements and his massive pull, Bronny could easily make his way into the NBA this year. Teams are so eager to sign LeBron, even after 21 years, that they are inflating Bronny’s draft value and turning him into a prospect that many front offices are keeping a very close eye on.
Five points a game and a lot of need for serious growth? That isn’t slowing down Bronny James’ race to the NBA. The King has spoken.
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