NBA
Which team could Bronny James be selected for in the 2024 NBA Draft?
Bronny James and his father are never far from the headlines, and now the conversation has come around about which team - if any - could select him.
I know it’s still very early, but the hype is certainly already here. The NBA Draft doesn’t get underway until next month (June 26) but the rumours are swirling overhead like Cumulonimbus clouds ready for action.
The main star of the show this year is set to be Bronny James, son of ‘The King’, and there’s been plenty of talk about just where he might end up...
The 2024 NBA Draft Class
Unlike this year’s selection of young stars, the 2024 NBA Draft won’t see a clear favorite for the top spot like Victor Wembanyama. Indeed, there is a wide range of players who could potentially be selected as the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s Draft. For starters, there are G League Ignite’s Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland, both of whom have been projected as potential No. 1 picks. Of course, if either of them is actually given the honor, it will come as somewhat of a surprise with college basketball’s top prospect generally considered to be USC point guard, Isaiah Collier.
Where the other notable candidates are concerned, it’s interesting to see that the 2024 draft is expected to feature more returning college players than this most recent one. Duke’s Kyle Filipowski, UConn’s Donovan Clingan, and Texas’ Dillon Mitchell are three sophomores with lottery potential. Then we’ve also got yet another group of very talented international players led by yet another Frenchman, Zaccaharie Rsacher.
As for James, specifically, it’s got to be said that he’s had to develop in rather harsh circumstances with his father being who he is. That’s not to say he hasn’t shown considerable growth across his four years at Sierra Canyon, however, to call him an elite prospect might be a stretch at this time. It’s clear that he’s got a great skillset as a guard being athletic, laterally quick, and dogged on defence, but his lack of size does bring things down a notch. Still, one can see the foundation is there. The question is can he build on it?
Will Bronny James be selected in the draft or return to school?
Back in June 2023, ESPN’s mock Draft saw the Atlanta Hawks take Bronny James with the 17th overall pick (via the Sacramento Kings) in the event.
However, in their most recent projection, which came out in mid-May, James actually went unselected in the Draft. Following the release of the lottery, the Los Angeles Lakers, who hold the No. 17 and No. 55 overall picks in the draft, were the favourites to sign him, but ESPN interestingly had them selecting Duke guard Jared McCain at No. 17 before choosing Houston guard Jamal Shead at No. 55.
After the projection from ESPN caused many to raise their eyebrows, Bronny took to the court,at the Combine, and it’s safe to say that he impressed under huge pressure. Strong performances saw him put up 17 points, 2 assists, 5 rebounds, 5 turnovers in 42 minutes, meaning his projections for being selected may just have changed for the better in time for the upcoming event.