The argument for drafting Bronny James and the argument against it
By Arrick Joel
On Friday morning, Shams Charania reported Bronny James, son of current Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, would be declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft. The announcement came in junction with James' decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
As a freshman at the University of Southern California, James averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes per game. Although his statistics are not eye-popping, the 19-year-old guard deserves his share of patience after suffering cardiac arrest during a practice session with USC last July due to a congenital heart defect.
What does it mean for Bronny to declare for the NBA Draft and enter the transfer portal?
By declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft and entering the NCAA transfer portal, James controls his own destiny. With years of college eligibility, James can test the waters of the NBA Draft while maintaining full flexibility over his future in college basketball should no team opt to select him during the NBA Draft.
The decision is entirely Bronny's to make. What motivates him to decide to stay at USC, transfer to a new collegiate team, or accept an NBA contract is up to his discretion. While many have begun to speculate on what is best for the son of the NBA's all-time leading scorer, it is key to remember what may motivate a team in the league to take the chance on the young guard.