Bronny James was not projected to be a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by many experts. Despite being ranked as the No. 54 prospect by Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports, he went undrafted on Wednesday. While this was expected given his draft ranking, there was still speculation that a team might select him due to his famous father, LeBron James.
Following the draft, Bronny James is now the most prominent name heading into the second round, with the Los Angeles Lakers appearing as a potential landing spot at No. 55. Although LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, has emphasized that Bronny and LeBron are not a package deal, there have been rumors linking Bronny to the Lakers throughout the draft process.
The Lakers’ decision to potentially draft Bronny stems from the idea of creating the first father-son combo to play together in NBA history, should LeBron opt to stay. The Lakers made another notable pick in the first round when they selected Dalton Knecht at No. 17, suggesting they are looking to build for the future.
Before the draft, Bronny only worked out for the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, though the Suns lost their second-round pick due to a tampering violation. Other teams, such as the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dallas Mavericks, have shown interest in the 6-foot-2 combo guard, but his agent’s preference for guaranteed deals might limit his options.
Bronny James’ draft process has been somewhat unconventional, with his limited pre-draft workouts and the stipulation of wanting a guaranteed deal making it challenging for teams to consider selecting him. The Lakers are seen as the likely destination for Bronny, but there is still a possibility that another team could disrupt those expectations. It remains to be seen where Bronny will ultimately land and begin his NBA journey.