As the 2024 NBA Draft approaches, no prospect has generated more buzz than Bronny James.
In addition to being the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, the former USC guard has taken a curious approach to his draft preparations, only working out for select teams despite being projected to be a late-first-round pick.
Speaking to ESPN, however, James’ agent denied that his client was doing anything unique. In fact, Rich Paul stated that he has taken this approach with multiple clients before.
“This is nothing new,” Paul said. “The goal is to find a team that values your guy and try to push him to get there. It’s important to understand the context and realize that this has always been the strategy with many of my clients throughout the years, especially those in need of development like Bronny. My stuff is by design.”
“Bronny is the same as my previous clients,” he added. “I got the word out early to teams that if you plan on bringing Bronny in, here’s what you need to know: If you won’t give him a real deal, there’s nothing to talk about. It’s hard to get real development on a two-way deal.
Paul has been consistently adamant that James won’t sign a two-way contract with any team that drafts him. To this point, he has reportedly worked out with his father’s current team, the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the Phoenix Suns.
[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.