Following the conclusion of the 2023-24 college basketball season, USC Trojans guard Bronny James made the decision to test the NBA Draft waters by going through the draft process. And it sounds like he won’t just be testing the waters – he’ll be staying in the draft.
Ahead of Wednesday’s deadline, the agent of Bronny James – the son of NBA megastar LeBron James – announced that Bronny would be remaining in the NBA Draft and will not return to college next season.
“He’s staying in the draft,” Bronny’s agent Rich Paul told ESPN.
It’s not where Bronny will be selected in the draft, but Paul seems to think that someone will select him.
“Bronny’s [draft] range is wide,” Paul told ESPN. “He’s a really good prospect who has a lot of room for growth. It only takes one team. I don’t care where that team is — it can be No. 1 or 58 — [but] I do care about the plan, the development. The team’s strategy, the opportunity and the financial commitment. That’s why I’m not doing a two-way deal. Every team understands that.”
Obviously, this decision led to a lot of reactions on social media.
This is like when LiAngelo Ball got picked up because Lonzo & LaMelo were good. https://t.co/nMvylJB6zn
— Brock (@brockhuber) May 29, 2024
The final boss of all the Nepo Babies.
Nepotism will never beat this. https://t.co/onjs8nqjFL
— Todd (@YinzerSTILLinOH) May 29, 2024
I’m not as tapped in as some others, but…WHY?
What’s the upside? https://t.co/culTiOyOQm
— Pretty Thanos (@LamarMF) May 29, 2024
It’s smart, have Bronny develop in the g league, bring him up for a couple games with his dad for ticket sales/ratings etc. most draft picks don’t work out anyway at least this is a sure fire financially good decision for whoever takes him https://t.co/9jJF7qCKs9
— humbly ricky celtics ☘️ (@RickAutiello) May 29, 2024
It’s going to make a mockery of the NBA draft, but he’s going in the first round. In a weak class, they’re are thirsting for a mainstream headline story like Bronny playing with his Dad https://t.co/CKVUKe08Pr
— A🦁 (@itsYDG2) May 29, 2024
It's a win-win situation for bronny. You either get to play in the NBA with your dad, or continue life outside of basketball as a millionaire/invester/buisness owner or whatever path he chooses after basketball https://t.co/k6oh7ZuaQn
— Mike N (@Nak351) May 29, 2024
We’ll have to see who ultimately selects Bronny in the draft. It’s clear that he and his agent believe he’ll be selected by someone.
[ESPN]
