Lakers ‘Widely Expected’ To Draft Bronny James If He Falls To Them

According to NBA insider Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the Los Angeles Lakers are “widely expected” to draft Bronny James if he falls to them. 

The Lakers have two picks (17 and 55) in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. 

“The Lakers are widely expected to draft Bronny either with one of their own two picks (Nos. 17 or 55) or by trading up in the second round,” Pincus wrote. 

Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks for USC this season while shooting 36.6% from the floor, 26.7% from beyond the arc and 67.6% from the free-throw line. 

Bronny performed well in the second scrimmage in Chicago at the NBA Draft Combine. He finished with 13 points in 23 minutes while shooting 4-of-10 from beyond the arc.

LeBron James’ son crushed the 3-point star shooting drill, going 19/25 from deep. 

The leading scorer in NBA history, LeBron is expected to decline his 2024-25 player option and sign a new deal with the Lakers this offseason. 

No father has played with or against his son in the NBA. LeBron, who turns 40 next season, said on his podcast with JJ Redick that he’s “super proud” of how Bronny has handled “scrutiny” at such a young age. 

Bronny is only 19 years old. 

“I wouldn’t be able to handle the scrutiny and all the things that he got going on at his age, at his level, with social media,” LeBron said. “Like I didn’t have social media to deal with when I came in at 18. I did have a lot of scrutiny. I did have a lot of things that was put on my shoulders, but I didn’t have every single day, around-the-clock news coverage, sports shows, things talking about this particular person every single day.

“Or you go online or on social media and X and Instagram and everyone can comment, every single day, about whatever they wanna say. I didn’t have to deal with that. And to see him handle it with such class and just like self-awareness and just staying even-keeled is just a remarkable thing man. And super proud of him.”

The Lakers are expected to hire Redick or Dan Hurley as their new head coach.