ESPN: Bronny James a surefire future NBA player

[Kingdibs19]

Bronny James | 6-foot-4 | PG/SG

Sierra Canyon | 2023 | Uncommitted

James delivered a standout performance in the headliner of the Hoophall Classic that reconfirmed his status as one of the best two-way players in high school basketball and a surefire future NBA player.

In a class full of prospects whose development has stagnated, James is one of the few who continues to make strides physically and skill-wise, looking like a five-star recruit and potential one-and-done candidate.

Standing around 6-4 with a chiseled frame and long wingspan, James fits the bill for what NBA teams are looking for physically. He put on a clinic defensively on the ball at Hoophall with five steals and one block. He uses his frame to get over screens seamlessly, almost always makes the right rotations plugging gaps off the ball, is smart about using verticality to protect the rim and generates countless deflections with his excellent mobility. He possesses strong hands and an instinct for jumping passing lanes, making him an absolute pest by putting intense pressure on the ball.

Bronny James drains deep 3-pointerBronny James knocks down a 3-pointer from 35-feet out for Sierra Canyon.
Offensively, James has made strides as a perimeter shooter, hitting 3-for-8 attempts from 3 at Hoophall, including one deep pull-up from well beyond NBA range. He is a high-level connector who passes ahead in transition unselfishly, can dish off a live dribble and generally makes the right basketball play more often than not, despite not being a great ball handler or shot creator. James looks better suited playing a De'Anthony Melton-esqe secondary ballhandling role than a true go-to guy, as he went just 1-for-9 inside the arc, and is still prone to streakiness shooting off the dribble.

Despite the incredible amount of hype and outsized amount of attention he garners, James looks like an outstanding teammate who communicates at a very high level and looks consumed with playing the right way and making winning plays.

He'll be in strong consideration as a first-round prospect in our initial 2024 NBA mock draft when that is released in the coming weeks.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/35482732/hoophall-classic-bronny-james-reconfirmed-top-two-way-player-status

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[Ugalde]

when does he get drafted? like what year?

[iLLmatic860]

Potential to be the 2nd best player ever

[leolozon]

Technically, to be a NBA player, you just need to play 1 game. Anyone here wants to bet that Bronny is not going to play games in the NBA?

He's going to get chances, even more if he's a good defender.

[CraftylikeaFox]

ESPN is about to put in Lavar Ball type work to make sure Bronny gets drafted.

[-Luke-]

when does he get drafted? like what year?

Probably 2024

[Kingdibs19]

when does he get drafted? like what year?

Not this summer, but next summer.

[ItsDanger]

At that height, he better be really good. Wasn't impressed when I saw clips last year but I'm sure daddy will pull strings.

[Lockdown504090]

35-40 range. definitely has a role in the nba.

long arms
good decision maker
can guard up to 6'6 when he fills out, strong already
very athletic.
can shoot well enough.
high iq.
doesnt turn the ball over a lot.

hes basically young pat bev without the antics, lots of teams want that.

[infinite11285]

He had a really good game against the best HS player in the country a few weeks ago.

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He's currently #28th on ESPN's Top 100 list and has offers from several high-profile schools.

[SeattleJazzFan]

he's not an nba rotation caliber player.

[Pointgod]

Potential to be the 2nd best player ever

Potential to be the second best James ever after Mike James.

[spanishninja]

future NBA player? is that really much of a bar?

[LBJKB24MJ23]

i think he'll play in the NBA.

[TheDiesel36]

He has a very good shot... to be the greatest nepotism case ever. I mean, the dude is not event close to being an NBA caliber prospect after a year of college, on a good D1 program he is a 10-15mpg in his first year at best, after that sure, anything can happen but a 2024 draft pick based on basketball skill or potential is preposterous

[infinite11285]

he's not an nba rotation caliber player.

Based on what? He's a four-star recruit, one of the best HS players in the nation, and just turned 18. He's nowhere near being a finished product.

[kieferli]

Let Raptors draft him so we can sign LBj for free one year

[shi-woo]

Someone will draft him in the same way that every year some team from CAL or TX drafts some random asian dude.

NBA is business and entertainment, and the NBA is all about that market reach and selling gear.

Whatever team he goes to will get instant fans, ESPN camera crews at all their games, and the favor of a player that essentially owns NBA agents.

If Bronny was 5'4 220lbs with club feet, this kid would still get drafted.

It's just good business

[MarcusBrody]

35-40 range. definitely has a role in the nba.

long arms
good decision maker
can guard up to 6'6 when he fills out, strong already
very athletic.
can shoot well enough.
high iq.
doesnt turn the ball over a lot.

hes basically young pat bev without the antics, lots of teams want that.

i don't think he's a "surefire" NBA player, but I think this is a good take and why I think he'll be one. It's counterintuitive, but one of the things that growing up around LeBron and the best basketball players in the world (and playing on about the best youth teams the US has to offer) seems to have taught Bronny is that he isn't a focal point star. Had he grown up in most other situations, he'd likely have been the undeniable best player on the team and he would have been featured on offense constantly. But he's probably not going to be an NBA player based on that.

Instead, he does more of the things that Alex Caruso talked about when he discussed why certain G League players make it to the NBA and others - who put up better counting stats - don't: NBA teams have roles they need filled around the stars and volume scoring isn't usually the role. It's playing smart, defending, taking care of the ball, facilitating, hitting shots when the situation calls for it. Bronny seems to be focused on doing those things and I think it is why his profile has risen as he approaches college. Nothing is for certain and it would obviously help if he suddenly grew another inch or two, but while he won't be a star, he seems like the type of player that could be a solid NBA contributor someday as a 6th man point guard or a defensively focused combo guard/secondary ball handler on a team with a bigger scoring lead guard.

[Lockdown504090]

35-40 range. definitely has a role in the nba.

long arms
good decision maker
can guard up to 6'6 when he fills out, strong already
very athletic.
can shoot well enough.
high iq.
doesnt turn the ball over a lot.

hes basically young pat bev without the antics, lots of teams want that.

i don't think he's a "surefire" NBA player, but I think this is a good take and why I think he'll be one. It's counterintuitive, but one of the things that growing up around LeBron and the best basketball players in the world (and playing on about the best youth teams the US has to offer) seems to have taught Bronny is that he isn't a focal point star. Had he grown up in most other situations, he'd likely have been the undeniable best player on the team and he would have been featured on offense constantly. But he's probably not going to be an NBA player based on that.

Instead, he does more of the things that Alex Caruso talked about when he discussed why certain G League players make it to the NBA and others - who put up better counting stats - don't: NBA teams have roles they need filled around the stars and volume scoring isn't usually the role. It's playing smart, defending, taking care of the ball, facilitating, hitting shots when the situation calls for it. Bronny seems to be focused on doing those things and I think it is why his profile has risen as he approaches college. Nothing is for certain and it would obviously help if he suddenly grew another inch or two, but while he won't be a star, he seems like the type of player that could be a solid NBA contributor someday as a 6th man point guard or a defensively focused combo guard/secondary ball handler on a team with a bigger scoring lead guard.

I watch high school basketball a lot. IDK why they just take the highest ranked kids, assume theyre going nba. Then in college do the same thing. bronny gonna put up 13, 5 and 5 on 45, 33 , and 70sum percet from the ft line and fall because teams do the same stupidity they do all the time when they take guys like cam reddish in the lotto.