While he may not even be a projected first-round pick, it’s already been well established that Bronny James is the biggest star in the 2024 NBA Draft.
So it stands to reason that when ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released their latest joint mock draft, many looked to see where the USC guard is projected to be picked.
Like many mock drafts, ESPN’s latest slots the son of LeBron James to be a late second-round pick. But while many have understandably pegged the younger James to join his father on the Los Angeles Lakers, who lay claim to the No. 55 overall pick, Givony and Woo project him to be taken one spot earlier… by the Boston Celtics.
Could you imagine?
Unless Bronny is surprisingly selected in the first round, the second night of the two-day draft figures to focus on where he’ll be picked. And if he remains on the board as the Lakers’ second-round pick approaches, anticipation will surely be building as the possibility of LeBron and Bronny becoming the first father-son duo in NBA history as teammates looks like an increasing reality.
For the team picking directly in front of Los Angeles to rob the Lakers — and the rest of the league — of that would be storyline enough. But not only are the Celtics and Lakers the NBA’s two most storied franchises and historical rivals, but Boston is also a personal arch nemesis of James’, who has battled the C’s in several playoff matchups dating back to 2008.
Over the years, the four-time MVP has made no bones about how he feels about Boston, which he called “racist as f***” on an episode of The Shop in 2022. One could assume that hatred would only be amplified if the Celtics were the franchise to deprive him of playing alongside his son — something James has been openly talking about since 2018.
The morning debate shows would have a field day (and they might anyways just based on Givony and Woo’s mock draft).
Suffice to say, there will be no shortage of intrigue surrounding who picks Bronny, whether it’s the Lakers or — especially — if it’s not.
[ESPN]
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.