The summer has been home for the hype of the many offseason moves around the league and clips of players getting some run before the NBA season finally starts. Yet NBA players aren't the only ones showing the flair, as Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, has also made his share of noise ahead of his high school debut at Sierra Canyon.
Yet many wonder what's behind the slick AAU dime and crossover clips and the viral rim-grazing dunks he's pulling off at age 14. Is he the real deal?
Most talent evaluators view him a talented prospect with much to improve upon before he's a surefire NBA prospect.
“I haven’t closely evaluated him yet,” Rivals.com recruiting analyst Corey Evans, who will begin looking hard at the entire Class of 2023 this year, told Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports. “But from a quick glance, he’s made significant progressions over the last year in terms of skill set, improving as an athlete and getting bigger, taller and stronger. You hate to project four or five years in advance, but right now everything adds up to him definitely being an NBA prospect.”
There are still many unknowns that come from looking into a player this young, as James has already grown four inches — from 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-2 within the past year-and-a-half.
Mike Jones, head coach at Washington, D.C.-area powerhouse DeMatha Catholic (a school which Markelle Fultz and Victor Oladipo attended) and head coach of the USA Basketball Under 16/17 Junior National Team, knows he might get to coach James at some point, but it's far too early to make any on-point assessments. One thing is sure though, Bronny can pass the ball with the best of them.
“[Bronny] has the ability to play the game [well], in terms of passing the ball and playing with other good teammates,” said Jones. “A lot of kids his age struggle with that. They’re so good that they need to have the ball in their hands. He’s been able to develop, kind of like his father, being able to play with other really good players. That’s a skill that I think is underappreciated.”
James if still growing into his body and developing his overall skillset. Four years is a long time for a rapidly-growing talent and time is eventually what will tell if Bronny is able to polish his rough edges and shine himself into a diamond prospect.
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