Bronny James was not expected to be a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by many people. The son of LeBron James, ranked as the No. 54 prospect by Yahoo Sports’ Krysten Peek, was not selected in the first round on Wednesday. While it wasn’t a shock considering his ranking, there was still speculation that a team might pick him based on his father’s influence.
Bronny is now the most prominent name in the second round of the draft, with the Los Angeles Lakers being a possible landing spot at No. 55 overall. Although LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, has stated that the two are not a package deal, the Lakers have been connected to Bronny throughout the draft process.
Drafting Bronny and potentially keeping LeBron, who could opt out of his contract soon, would create the first father-son combo to play on the same NBA team. The Lakers also made a notable pick at No. 17 by selecting Dalton Knecht from Tennessee.
Bronny James’ pre-draft process has been unconventional, as he only worked out for the Lakers and Phoenix Suns. The Suns, who do not have a second-round pick due to tampering violations, could still find a way to acquire him. Other teams that have shown interest include the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dallas Mavericks.
Rich Paul has indicated that he wants Bronny to be selected by teams willing to offer a guaranteed contract. With his limited college experience and potential as a developmental prospect, some teams may be hesitant to take a chance on him. However, many believe the Lakers will ultimately select him in the draft.