WITH DOZENS OF With cameras following his every move, Bronny James took the court Monday night at the NBA draft combine ready to create his own narrative.
It was the first day of strength and agility workouts in Chicago, and James was in one of the last groups to participate, but several executives, including Los Angeles Lakers vice president Rob Pelinka, remained in the stands at Wintrust Arena to See your training. .
James had an impressive first day. He recorded a vertical jump of 40.5 inches, which was fourth highest among combine participants with solid scores relative to his peers in agility drills. He shot 19 of 25 in the 3-point shooting drill, which ranked second overall. And despite standing 6-foot-1 without shoes, his 6-foot-7¼ wingspan and 210-pound frame were still comparable to NBA players like Gabe Vincent or Gary Harris.
James continued to participate in scrimmages the next two days, and scouts who spoke with ESPN this week applauded James for his performance and the way he played a role in helping his team win, making open shots and playing the game. defensive with enthusiasm.
In front of the watchful eyes of NBA executives, his combined performance – from the measurable to the intangible – catapulted him into ESPN's top 100 rankings, rising from 98th overall to 54th. Within days, his La His projection went from being outside the top 100 prospects to a possible second-round pick ahead of the June 26-27 NBA draft.
James initially wasn't among the most impressive of the 78 prospects invited to the combine, but instead was somewhere in the middle of the pack. But the most important thing is that at the end of the combine he looked like he belonged.
Bronny James has so far lived in the shadow of his superstar father, LeBron James. For years, her name has been in the news because of her father's desire to play alongside her before he finishes her career. LeBron James, 39, a four-time MVP and NBA champion, just completed his 21st season and could become a free agent this summer if he opts out of his contract with the Lakers. But he recently said that he “hasn't thought much lately” about teaming up with his oldest son in the NBA.
Bronny James, 19, told reporters this week that he viewed the combine as a sign of the work he's put in since the end of his first college season at USC (adding more bulk), of himself as a person (answering questions of the media). after not giving interviews as a rookie) and the player who is on the court (an NBA prospect detached from his famous name).
James stated that his goal was to make it to the NBA and not necessarily simply play alongside his father, the NBA's all-time scoring leader.
“My dream has always been to get my name out there, make a name for myself and, of course, make it to the NBA, which is everyone's point of view here,” James said Tuesday. “I never thought about just playing with my dad, but of course he mentioned it a couple of times.”
If Bronny James' goal this week was to create a divide between himself as a player and his father, he began to do so with a strong showing among the rest of the draft hopefuls in Chicago.
“He's coming back,” USC guard and fellow draft prospect Isaiah Collier said. “He's taking a little time, but Bronny is going to be great.
“Everyone will go see very soon.”
WHEN YOU ASK WHICH The NBA players who most resemble his game, James pointed to Jrue Holiday of the Boston Celtics and Derrick White and Davion Mitchell of the Sacramento Kings, guards who excel in their roles by being a pest on defense.
“[Mitchell] “It was an interesting comparison to hear him point it out,” a team executive told ESPN. “He showed that he's realistic in thinking about this. I see some of Aaron Holiday in him.”
James' freshman season at USC was delayed after he went into cardiac arrest during practice in July and needed surgery due to a congenital heart defect. He didn't make his college debut until December, but even then he acknowledged that he still felt some lingering effects, as well as notable fear, from the episode.
“I was in a difficult situation in college,” the executive continued. “He had a health issue and his defense was already set. Collier is a legitimate lottery pick, and Boogie Ellis as a senior is ahead of him. So I can see where [James] “He needs more time, but in a few years he has the opportunity to be a rotation player in the NBA.”
With a limited sample of game film from his first season (he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25 games for the Trojans), several executives who spoke to ESPN at the start of the combine said they were anxious to see how James looked up close and on the court.
In his first scrimmage on Tuesday, James failed to build on the momentum of his strong opening night performance. He struggled to find his rhythm as he played 19 minutes, hitting 2-of-8 field goals and collecting 4 points and 4 rebounds.
“He made that good move for a floater,” an Eastern Conference scout told ESPN. “But he needed to do something else to stand out.”
“With his height, when you're small, you need to do more things that stand out,” one Eastern Conference general manager told ESPN.
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Bronny impresses in front of scouts and LeBron at the combine
Bronny James shows off his vision with a sweet pass and hits a pair of jumpers in front of his father, LeBron, at the combine.
WEARING BLACK With a hoodie pulled over his head as if that would make him incognito, LeBron James walked down the stairs into the Wintrust Arena stands and found a seat in the second row of center court.
He was accompanied by his wife, Savannah, as they took a seat near LeBron and Bronny's agent, Rich Paul. Bronny's second and final scrimmage of the week was about to begin.
He wasn't in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game, but he seemed comfortable from the moment he stepped on the court. He scored during his first stint as a player, getting a defender to jump into the air on a fake before dribbling in for a mid-range jumper. He hit a pair of catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and created for his teammates with some creative passing.
“These things take time, man. How many rookies come into the league at 19 with everything figured out and can make an impact right away?” a G League general manager told ESPN. “You trust the basketball IQ and he's going to figure out some things because of how he was raised. He's LeBron James' son.”
Bronny scored 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting in 23 minutes in the second scrimmage, earning him player of the game honors and a postgame interview on the ESPN broadcast.
LeBron sat smiling in the stands as he pointed to Bronny walking over to put on a headset for the on-court postgame interview, and Savannah pulled out her phone to document the moment.
“I always try to play the right way, but my teammates and my coaches just encouraged me to be aggressive,” Bronny said in the postgame interview. “They believe in me. I feel like that's a big part of why I go out and play the right way for my team and my teammates.
“They really helped me today.”
BRONNY JAMES DECLARED for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He has until May 29 to decide whether he stays in the draft or returns to college, where he has decided to enter the transfer portal.
James admitted this week that he hasn't made a decision yet and declined to say whether he will meet with NBA teams during the pre-draft process. James will have workouts with several teams based on conversations emerging from Chicago, a source said.
The Lakers have shown continued interest in James as the rest of the league realizes what LA has been looking for for some time, a source said.
James will participate in the Klutch Sports pro day on Wednesday, May 22. Klutch will hold the pro day at the Lakers' practice facility in El Segundo, California.
If James decides to return to college and transfer elsewhere, Duquesne is expected to be among his considerations, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski in early April. New Duquesne coach Dru Joyce was a high school teammate of LeBron's and is an old family friend.
For now, Bronny James is taking some time to think about his future.
If he chooses the NBA, his performance this week helped make his case as a legitimate prospect in the eyes of league executives and scouts.
“Wherever I'm happy, I feel like it's the best opportunity and situation where I want to be myself,” James said. “Yes, just where my heart wants me to go [go]”I feel like that's where I should be.”
ESPN's Dave McMenamin and Jonathan Givony contributed reporting.
