Bronny James, the son of NBA star LeBron James, will enter the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he announced in an Instagram post on Friday. The 19-year-old guard, who played his freshman season at USC, will also enter the transfer portal to gain flexibility while he trains with NBA teams before a final decision is made based on teams' evaluations.
Sources close to Bruni said the draft is Bruni's priority if he and Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports Group, feel comfortable with his standing.
Bronny's decision to pursue the draft and transfer portal at the same time concludes a season at USC that began with serious health concerns and ended with his impressive return to the field in a bench role. During a team practice in July, Bronny collapsed and went into cardiac arrest, an incident that a James family spokesman later said was caused by a congenital heart defect.
After four months, doctors allowed him to return to practicing the profession. He made his debut with the team in an overtime loss to Long Beach State on December 10, scoring four points in 16 minutes. Bronny has appeared in USC's last 25 games, starting six games and averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes.
“I have had a year filled with some ups and downs but it has all added up to growth for me as a man, student and athlete,” Bruni wrote in his announcement on Friday.
Bronny, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard, was not included on the list The athlete's most recent mock draft is in mid-March.
Questions have been raised about Bronny's future after his USC coach, Andy Enfield, left for the vacant head coaching position at SMU on Monday. LeBron said on Tuesday that Bronny had “some difficult decisions to make.”
“At the end of the day, Bronny is his own guy,” LeBron said after the Lakers' win over the Raptors in Toronto, when asked about Bronny and the transfer portal.
“He has some tough decisions to make, and when he's ready to make those decisions, he'll let us all know.” But as his family, we will support everything he does.”
LeBron, 39, has repeatedly expressed his desire to play in the NBA with his son before his Hall of Fame career ends.
“I will be playing my senior year with my son,” James said. The athlete In February 2022. “Wherever Bronny is, I will be there. I will do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. “It's not about the money at that point.”
The elder James has a $51.4 million player option with the Lakers next season, which he can decline this season to become a free agent. On Sunday, he discussed his future, saying he's not sure when he will retire but it's getting closer soon.
“Not too long,” James said when asked how long he planned to continue playing in the NBA. “It's not too long. Obviously I'm on the other side of the hill. I'm not going to play another 21 years, that's for sure. But not too long. I don't know when that door will close as far as when I'll retire. But I don't have a lot of time left.”
This story will be updated.
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