LeBron James' NBA future is hanging in the balance following his son Bronny's declaration for the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Los Angeles Lakers star has expressed his desire to play alongside his son, who has declared for this summer's 2024 NBA Draft while preserving his college eligibility. On Friday, it was revealed that 19-year-old Bronny, who played for USC during his freshman year, has entered the NCAA transfer portal to keep his options open. He plans to visit NBA teams and await his evaluation before deciding on his future.
While this is big news for the young guard, it presents a challenging decision for James regarding his own NBA career. If Bronny decides to stay in college and enter the NBA in the 2025 Draft as many anticipate, James' path will become clearer.
The 39-year-old is currently in the first season of a two-year extension with the Lakers, which means he will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. In theory, this would allow James to sign with any team that drafts Bronny.
The four-time MVP has repeatedly stated his ambition to prolong his career so he can play with his son in the NBA. However, if Bronny garners NBA interest and aims to join the league for the 2024-25 season, LeBron faces a pivotal choice.
Man fined £165 after outraging the internet by dying puppy to look like Pikachu
If the Lakers don't pick up the young star, LeBron could either stick with Los Angeles for Bronny's second season or leave at the end of his current stint.
LeBron is content with the Lakers, who are currently ninth in the Western Conference and have a team built for the playoffs. But if he decides to chase the dream of playing alongside Bronny, it could mean an abrupt and surprising exit from LA.
The buzz around Bronny's draft prospects is only heightened by the fact that securing him could put a team in the lead to sign LeBron, a titan of the sport and a marketing juggernaut. LeBron has expressed a desire to "hopefully" remain with the Lakers, especially considering his whopping $51 million deal next season, but as we know, the NBA is full of surprises.
Bronny's ascent in basketball was under threat before his first college season when he experienced a cardiac arrest during practice last July. Thankfully, he was given the all-clear to play again and, despite missing the initial eight games, he took part in 25 matches for the Trojans, clocking in averages of 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.
LeBron James attended plenty of Bronny's games at USC as he harbors dreams of playing in the NBA with his son (Getty Images)Standing at an impressive 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 210lbs, Bronny James certainly has the physical attributes of an NBA point guard. He's made a name for himself as a sharpshooter, nailing deep shots both off the dribble and from a stationary position, while also earning praise for his defensive prowess at such a young age.
However, there are lingering doubts about how well he'll adapt to the professional game. LeBron took to social media to address the buzz around his son's prospects in February, as speculation about his future intensified.
"Can y'all please just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball? The work and results will ultimately do the talking no matter what he decides to do," LeBron posted on X. "If y'all don't know he doesn't care what a mock draft says, he just WORKS! Earned Not Given! ".
"And to all the other kids out there striving to be great just keep your head down, blinders on, and keep grinding. These Mock Drafts don't matter one bit! I promise you! Only the WORK MATTERS! ! Let's talk REAL BASKETBALL PEOPLE! ".
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
