What NBA scouts have to say about Bronny James as a draft prospect

Dan Woike April 5, 2024

Bronny James has declared for the NBA draft while entering the transfer portal, giving him multiple options for the next step in his basketball career.

He could

simply

go through the predraft process and return to college armed with an evaluation from NBA personnel folks. Or

,

he could decide that after one season at USC, hes ready to become a professional.

The latter option, should you simply look at his stats

averages of

averaging

4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game might seem ridiculous. But one year after

he wasbeing

named a McDonalds All-American, there still are plenty of Bronny James fans

in scouting communities among scouts

.

We spoke to

Three

different

NBA executives and scouts who specialize in college evaluations

to get their quick gave their

thoughts, on

Bronny

James prospects as an NBA player.

and

What they said could surprise you. The executives and scouts were granted anonymity because they are expected to keep their evaluations confidential and protect the interests of their teams.

The elephant in the room

Invariably when you talk to people about

Bronny

James, you

also

start to have conversations about his father, LeBron, and what

potentially

drafting

the 19-year-oldBronny James

could do for an organization.

Its a bad draft and teams might think they can lure LeBron, one Western Conference scout said. So owners might take the chance in the second round because it will make them tons of money financially and theyll sell out arenas.

Other executives, though, believe the connection to be

a little bit

overblown. While LeBron James can opt out of his contract with the Lakers this summer and become an unrestricted free agent, hed be leaving more than $51 million on the table.

James, as recently as last postseason, clarified that his dream of playing with Bronny in the NBA wont out

–

weigh whats best for his son’s growth as a player.

At the end of the day, either if I am or if Im not,

Ive done what Ive had to do in this league and my son is going to take his journey, James said

then

.

during the playoffs last season.

And whatever his journey, however his journey lays out, hes going to do whats best for him. And as his dad, and his mom, Savannah, and his brother and sister, were going to support him in whatever he decides to do. So, just because thats my aspiration or my goal, doesnt mean its his. And Im absolutely OK with that.

Scouting the player (not the name)

If his name wasnt Bronny James, I would say I thought hes a late second-rounder who is a draftable two-way [contract], one Western

Conference

executive

told the Times said

.

So how could a player who averaged only 4.8 points

per game

be considered a real draft prospect? A lot

of

comes down to strengths and what NBA teams value.

The things he does well help really good teams, the executive said.

Those things include

displaying

good athleticism in transition, a high basketball IQ, strong character and a willingness to be an on-ball defender.

[Hes got an] NBA body and is a solid athlete, another Western

Conference

executive said. Smart player, solid on-ball defender and can maybe become a solid perimeter shooter.

Mentality wise, hes a glue guy,

thean

other exec

utivetold the Times said

.

James shot only 26.7% from three

-point rangethis season

at USC, but considering his late start

to the year after suffering cardiac arrest last July,because of his offseason heart issue

and the improvement hes made in

his shootingthat aspect

since early in high school, theres optimism in that part of his game.

Two years ago, I didnt think he could play, one of the

West

executive

s

said. He was a hard-playing, physical kid. But he couldnt shoot. He was like a college-player DeAnthony Melton. But starting with the summer before he got to USC, he really improved his shot.

The

An

other executive also mentioned Melton

s name

when asked for

Bronny

James NBA comparison.

There are

some

concerns about James size and the type of athlete he is. One executive labeled him as a small shooting guard and guessed hed measure

at

around 6 feet 2 at the

NBA

draft combine (USC listed him as 6-4).

That executive

also

said he

thinks James needs a runway to fully show his athleticism, whereas some players have more wiggle and can showcase their athleticism quicker and in tighter spots.

Im thrilled with the improvement hes made, but I worry hes always going to be a small shooting guard who cant get to his spots, one of the executives said.

The verdict

James, according the evaluators

we spoke to

, likely would hear his name somewhere in the middle of the second round

of the NBA draft and havewith

a real chance to develop into a contributing player.

Some think hed be targeted for a two-way contract

so he could develop in the G League

.

He needs and fits with better players around him where he plays a smaller role, one scout said. More of a combo guard right now. The best thing he does offensively is shoot the ball. Willing passer, not a creator, but he moves the ball and makes extra passes within the offense.

One executive

we spoke with

said he didnt think James would turn around a program or

a

franchise, but that his skills pair really well with other high-level players.

His reputation

, at least to date,

is of a kid who works really hard

on his game

and doesnt play with ego or an attitude (

at times,

some would like to see him be even more aggressive). The numbers might not show it, but James

, according to the people we spoke with, is appears to be

a draftable prospect.