USC freshman guard Bronny James will stay within the 2024 NBA draft and forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility, Klutch Sports activities CEO Wealthy Paul instructed ESPN.
Hours forward of the 11:59 p.m. ET NCAA deadline Wednesday, Paul instructed ESPN: “He is staying within the draft.”
James, the No. 54 prospect within the ESPN 100, has had a powerful pre-draft course of and elevated his standing from fringe to draftable prospect. James, a son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, declared for the draft and entered the switch portal in early April. As anticipated, he has accomplished his school basketball profession and turned his full consideration to the NBA.
“Bronny’s [draft] vary is vast,” Paul instructed ESPN. “He is a extremely good prospect who has numerous room for development. It solely takes one staff. I do not care the place that staff is — it may be No. 1 or 58 — [but] I do care concerning the plan, the event. The staff’s technique, the chance and the monetary dedication. That is why I am not doing a two-way deal. Each staff understands that.”
Every NBA staff has three two-way contracts along with 15 common roster spots. Two-way offers restrict gamers to 50 video games on an NBA staff’s lively checklist with a wage equal to half the rookie minimal ($580,000 in 2024-25). Two-way offers are sometimes supplied to second-round and undrafted prospects.
James, 19, examined as one of many quickest and most explosive athletes on the NBA draft mix in Chicago earlier this month, rating second amongst 71 members in two 3-point taking pictures drills. James additionally had 13 factors in a mix staff scrimmage.
He participated in a closely attended professional day on the Lakers’ observe facility final week, the place he once more demonstrated his highlight-reel explosiveness and enhancing perimeter taking pictures skill.
James enrolled at USC final summer time coming off robust showings within the McDonald’s All American Recreation and Nike Hoop Summit, however his freshman season was derailed by a July cardiac arrest episode that led to a process to deal with a congenital coronary heart defect. That sidelined him for almost 5 months.
He made his school debut in mid-December and averaged 4.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds and a pair of.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per recreation. USC completed a disappointing 15-18 and close to the underside of the Pac-12 standings.
James was medically cleared to be drafted by the NBA’s Health to Play Panel on the eve of the draft mix, sources instructed ESPN, permitting him to be a full participant within the week’s on-court actions.
With a month till the June 26-27 NBA draft, Paul mentioned he and his staff are figuring out a technique for which and what number of staff exercises to conduct.
“We’re nonetheless figuring it out,” Paul instructed ESPN. “Many groups have known as. It is a matter of hashing out exercises and determining who’s actual and who isn’t. There are solely two or three groups which may take him. That is how I’m going to method that.”
As a result of he’s LeBron James’ son, there was vital dialog round Bronny James ending up on the Lakers.
“The Lakers want to have a look at Bronny like everybody else,” Paul instructed ESPN. “In the event that they worth him sufficient and he is there, that is nice. If it isn’t the Lakers, that is nice. I will not be mad if it isn’t. It is apparent that folks hear the dialog across the dad and son taking part in collectively, however that is not our focus. If it occurs organically, nice. I am not constructing on that.
“I am not placing unrealistic expectations on Bronny. He is removed from a completed product. However he has a hell of begin. He is positioned nicely. … I do not see him not getting drafted, but when it bought to a degree the place the conditions did not make sense and we wanted to go undrafted, that is superb.”
As an undrafted participant, James may signal a free agent contract with any staff.
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft professional and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a non-public scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and worldwide groups.
