The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft is over, and former USC basketball guard Bronny James has yet to hear his name called. However, James has a chance to be selected during the second round on Thursday night. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith provided two prime destinations the talented guard could land at, and the Los Angeles Lakers are surprisingly not one of them.
Smith is skeptical of rumors suggesting James could land on the Lakers. He thinks being on the team with his father LeBron James and new head coach JJ Redick could be a distraction that all parties involved might be better off without. In turn, Smith named the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers as two potential suitors for James. He explained his reasoning alongside New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum on an episode of First Take.
“When I think about Bronny strictly from a basketball standpoint, I would tell you Denver and Philadelphia are teams that come to my mind. Simply because [their] number one option on offense is their bigs. They are the focal point, so [James] as a guard coming off the bench, who is known more for [his] defensive prowess than offensive abilities, has the opportunity to learn more,” Smith said, via First Take.
Smith believes James will face less pressure with the Nuggets or 76ers because they likely would not look for him to score as much. James could use his defensive strengths to make an impact and continue to develop with the organizations. On the flip side, Smith could see James doing well with the Lakers if they assign him to the G-League.
It will be interesting to see which team selects James as the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft approaches.
Why Bronny James has a bright NBA future
Bronny James' collegiate offensive campaign was surprising given his high school stats. James went from scoring 13.8 points per game during his senior year with Sierra Canyon to just 4.8 per contest in 19 minutes with the USC basketball team. In addition, he shot a lowly 26 percent on three-pointers. Yet, James' freshman year numbers do not tell the full story.
The former McDonald's All-American underwent a life-changing health scare the summer before his debut college season. James suffered a cardiac arrest during a USC practice in July of 2023. Thankfully he recovered and returned to the court later in the Fall. He understandably struggled to regain his rhythm, but his 2024 NBA Draft Combine performance convinced scouts that he was a worthy professional prospect.
James amassed a 40-and-a-half-inch max vertical leap during the Combine and had an impressive pro lane agility drill showing. He solidified his athleticism and defensive draw, but he increased his stock by performing well in shooting drills and scoring 13 points in his second scrimmage.
James and scouts alike believe he can impact teams similar to the way players like Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Davion Mitchell do. James' defensive instinct and growing offensive ability should be of great service to an NBA team. Moreover, James has one of the most coveted basketball minds in his circle with his father LeBron James.
Will James hear his name called on Thursday night during the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft?
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