Bronny James Cleared For NBA Combine Scrimmages

Former USC and NBA Draft prospect Bronny James has been medically cleared and is set to go for this week’s NBA Combine in Chicago, per Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

James’ status as a true prospect is very much a mystery, but the good news is he’s healthy enough to give it a go in front of hundreds of league executives and scouts, beginning with Tuesday’s five-on-five scrimmages. This after suffering a heart scare before his first and only season with the Trojans.

It was considered a disappointing season, with James averaging just 4.8 points for a team widely considered one of college basketball’s biggest disappointments. But as the son of LeBron James, there is no doubting Bronny’s basketball bloodlines.

Bronny James has until May 29 to decide if he will remain in the draft or return to college. If it’s the latter, he has answered the transfer portal and will play somewhere other than USC.

Sources have told Hoops Wire that they expect James to remain in the draft and that someone will choose him to help him develop at the game’s highest level and, yes, for an opportunity to try to lure LeBron. Many are viewing them as a package deal.

Plus, James is a client of Rich Paul, who managed to get another Akron native, Chris Livingston, selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft despite a so-so freshman season at Kentucky (with the final pick, No. 60, Milwaukee Bucks).

“I don’t value a young player getting into the lottery as much as I do getting him on the right team in the right developmental situation,” Paul told ESPN.

As for this year’s NBA Combine, all invitees must now take part in all aspects, though some prospects can opt out of the scrimmages.

The vast majority of them “will take part in measurements, athletic testing, medical examinations, team interviews and scrimmaging,” ESPN wrote.

The Combine is taking place at Wintrust Arena in the Near South Side community area of Chicago. It opened in 2017.