One of the biggest stories to focus on as we approach the NBA Draft will revolve around Bronny James.
The USC Trojans guard and son of NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James will forego his remaining college eligibility and is expected to remain in the draft after being cleared to play in the league and compete in the Draft Combine, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Monday.
Sources: Bronny James is expected to stay in the 2024 NBA Draft. The USC freshman has been fully cleared to play in the league as part of Fitness to Play panel and will participate in all pre-draft activities starting with the Draft Combine this week. pic.twitter.com/UDf3HanCAS
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 13, 2024
The prevailing thought for years was that LeBron would look to team up with his son for at least a year, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Monday that may not be the case after all, as it’s not necessarily the foregone conclusion that many thought.
If drafting Bronny isn’t a direct pipeline to acquiring LeBron, then why would teams be lining up to draft a player who averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game for a USC team that went 15-18 and finished ninth in the Pac-12?
Monday on ESPN’s NBA Today, Adrian Wojnarowski said that Bronny will “pack G-League arenas” and his “merchandising” make him an attractive player in the late first round or second round.
Teams are intrigued by Bronny James because of the financial impact he will have on their G League level at the beginning of his career, per @wojespn:
“He will pack G League arenas, merchandising. All of those make him an attractive player.”
Bronny could go late first-round. pic.twitter.com/4gHrAXDQTV
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 14, 2024
While Woj is likely right about the merchandising side of things, it would be hard to believe that one player would pack G-League arenas, as many were quick to point out. Bronny also had little to no impact on attendance while in college.
Bronny isn’t going to pack G League arenas lol. He didn’t pack LA arenas this year at USC. Team had an average attendance of 6300 in an arena that supports 10K+. The merchandising probably has some potential. https://t.co/7gUdgDV7ii
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) May 14, 2024
I've been around and talked to NBA people for years.
Never once did someone mention, "We need to pack the stadium for the Maine Red Claws."
This is disingenuous at best. https://t.co/Me9TSPbmpJ
— Terrence Oglesby (@T_Oglesby22) May 14, 2024
Nobody is drafting Bronny for any reason other than for the potential to lure LeBron to their franchise. He came off the bench and averaged 4 ppg. for a Pac-12 team that wasn't very good last year.
G League revenue potential? What are we even doing? https://t.co/xPhbkumV84
— Mike McDaniel (@MikeMcDanielSI) May 14, 2024
Find me one person who will go to random G League game exclusively to see a kid who averages 4 points a game https://t.co/OcI5BgWUgO
— Isaiah Walker (@walkeri141) May 14, 2024
About Robert O'Neill