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Imago

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Imago

Michael Jordan had enormous hands; LeBron James was freakishly athletic and a basketball savant; and Victor Wembanyama measured 7’4″. These pre-draft measurements, while they don’t define the viability of a player, do have ramifications in the draft selection process. Similarly, this year’s prospects’ measurements were also taken. Bronny James had to deal with some lengthy controversy while also comparing himself to a former teammate of LeBron James.

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During the first day of the draft, media eyes tracked Bronny James like prey. Each one of his drills was watched with an anticipating lens. He performed superbly well during the workout. The star shooting drill placed Bronny as the second-best performer amongst the 120+ players present. The 19-year-old USC player sustained his top performance during the vertical, recording a 40.5-inch leap.

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Bronny’s fundamentals were sharp, and his endurance was a talking point during the drills. After finishing his combine work, Bronny James was exposed to an array of questions. There, he revealed wanting to be like Jrue Holiday or Derrick White on an NBA team. But what do the metrics say? Who might Bronny James truly like? It isn’t his father, LeBron James, but someone who shared the floor with him for a few seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Bronny James measures similar to Dion Waiters

HoopsHype recently calculated the measurements of all the draft prospects and provided references with past NBA players. Alex Sarr, the 7’1″ French talent heralded as the number one pick, has similar metrics to the Warriors’ Kevon Looney and Pacers’ Jalen Smith. In that way, Bronny James’ draft comparisons might surprise the NBA fraternity. His height measured at 6’1″ without shoes, which seemed puzzling since Bronny was listed as 6’4″ at USC. But aside from that controversy, the teen was compared to the likes of Dion Waiters, a former teammate of his father, and current Magic guard, Gary Harris. But do they do justice to the way Bronny James plays?

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USA Today via Reuters

Waiters was a streaky scorer all his life. He did show hints of being a dashing scoring guard; however, he never could breed consistency within his game. On the other hand, Harris’ play matches are closer to those of Bronny James. The Orlando stalwart can shoot the ball well and is a terror to face when defending on the ball. Bronny, too, is looking to be one of those guys.

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Significantly, being the son of an NBA great hasn’t resulted in him having a superiority complex. Bronny James was spotted staying grounded and reacting to the unaltered reality. Well-educated about where he stands today, James isn’t out to grab the gold immediately. Thus, the teen’s readiness to settle into an inferior role and gradually make his way up could positively impact his draft stock.

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Do you think Bronny James’ draft performance was enough for a team to trust their future? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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Written by

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,520 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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Sanchari Bhaduri

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