Bronny James surprised many with his decision to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft. After a less-than-stellar freshman year at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from 3-point range, many were expecting him to stay back in college another year to develop his skills. At USC, the younger James struggled to connect his shots, and the issues were exacerbated due to his height, raising doubts about his readiness for the professional stage.

While USC officially lists Bronny James at 6-foot-4, it is believed he’s actually closer to 6-foot-2. An NBA scout told The Ringer that Bronny is more like an “undersized non-shooting guard” whose shot appears solid but doesn’t consistently find the net. The scout expressed his concerns, stating, “Those guys scare me the most. It’s either lack of touch or mental, and either way those take years to correct.”

While James has a picturesque form, the reality is that his shots don’t fall often enough. During his time at USC, he shot a meager 19.6 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, missing 37 of his 46 attempts and often hitting the front rim, back rim, or clanking shots off the sides. This issue appears to have plagued him since his high school days, where he managed only a 33.8 percent success rate on catch-and-shoot 3s over 139 attempts.

And while his NBA case is built around defense, thanks to his extremely quick hands and sharp reaction time to rack up deflections on crossovers and passes, his size remains a concern. An NBA general managed noted, “Size is really the only issue for him on defense. If he was actually 6-foot-4 or even a bit bigger, he’d have really excellent potential.”

As per the NBA general manager, the best course of action for the 19-year-old seems to be for him to stay in college for a second year to avoid being overshadowed in the league. “Bronny is nowhere near ready. He should go back to school to develop at his own pace or he risks getting lost in the shuffle, whether or not he’s playing with his dad.” Fortunately, Bronny has not only just declared for the draft, but he has also retained his college eligibility and entered the transfer portal.

Bronny James has entered the transfer portal

It is important to note the context of Bronny’s rocky campaign. The Trojans guard had a delayed start to his year as he recovered from an offseason cardiac arrest. And now that he is fully healthy, he could put together a better sophomore season, albeit with another team. USC struggled all season, posting a 15-18 record, often performing as less than the sum of its parts. While Isaiah Collier showed promise as a potential lottery pick, the vets couldn’t pick up the remaining slack. And now that Head Coach Andy Enfield has secured a coaching gig at Southern Methodist University, it appears Bronny might also be seeking a fresh start elsewhere.

James has been tied to the Ohio State Buckeyes, who were heavily involved in his recruitment process before he ultimately chose USC. It is possible that the two can revisit the opportunity once again. Duquesne Dukes are also on the radar for Bronny. It is important to note that LeBron James is connected to head coach Keith Dambrot, who once trained him before he entered the league. James also has ties with the associate head coach, Dru Joyce III, a former teammate and close friend from Akron. UCLA has also been mentioned in the mix as Bronny’s potential destination. What makes this option particularly appealing is that Bronny wouldn’t have to relocate to another city and could stay close to his family.

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