

After months of will he, won’t he, Bronny James has finally decided his future. And to the surprise of many, he has decided to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft. Bronny also decided to enter the transfer portal to maintain his college eligibility. However, his first option remains playing in the NBA, preferably with his father, LeBron James. And the NBA could grant Bronny and LeBron’s wish according to a former MLB executive.
In a recent episode of the Rich Eisen Show, guest host David Samson, who served as the president of MLB side the Miami Marlins from 2002 to 2017, stated that the NBA could potentially intervene to bring together LeBron and Bronny James. He said, “Leagues get involved in things all the time. They have to. It’s their business. They’re in the business of doing what’s best for the entire league to build the revenue. Having Bronny and LeBron play together; that’s TV gold.”
He further insinuated that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver might be inclined to unite LeBron and Bronny James due to the potential revenue benefits. He added, “Adam Silver is going out for new TV deals. So, this is the moment where they are looking for as much fanfare as possible. And what better fanfare is LeBron James being with Bronny. That’s a big thing. It’s gonna be huge.”
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While the league would certainly benefit from pairing Bronny with LeBron James, interest around him is at an all-time low in the NBA. However, Bronny’s association with LeBron could potentially play a huge role in Bronny’s NBA aspirations.
Is LeBron forcing the Lakers hand to draft Bronny?
Bronny James entered the 2023-24 season as one of the most highly touted high school prospects. He averaged 13.8 points/game, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals in the regular season of his senior year with Sierra Canyon. However, things haven’t gone according to plan for Bronny in his freshman season with USC. He has failed to nail down a place in the starting lineup for the Trojans. In fact, Bronny has only managed to average 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25 games.
Bronny James’ form during the season has severely jeopardized his 2024 NBA draft prospects. According to ESPN, Bronny is projected to be a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, the influence that LeBron enjoys within the Lakers organization could hand Bronny an NBA roster spot. There even have been suggestions that LeBron is forcing the Lakers to draft Bronny. According to Fox’s Dan Beyer, “It is an unfortunate situation for the Lakers because he’s (James) forcing their hand.”
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LeBron’s current contract with the Los Angeles Lakers ends after this season. However, he has a player option worth $51.4 million for the 2024-25 season. If the Lakers draft Bronny, LeBron might opt into his player option. Even if Bronny goes undrafted, LA could offer Bronny a two-way contract, which would give him the opportunity to play in the G-League. But regardless of the outcome, it surely is going to be an entertaining couple of months for fans of the Lakers.
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