Bronny James is not an NBA player nor is he close to being one’: Is LeBron’s son overrated?
Bronny is being scrutinized by analysts and scouts at the NBA Draft Combine.
At the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, which features the most promising young players aspiring to be selected in the upcoming Draft on June 27, one player drawing significant attention isn’t expected to be in the Top 10, Top 20, or even the Top 40.
This young player, who until recently wasn’t even on the radar, is Bronny James. Despite not being a top prospect, he is the focus of many scouts present at the combine.
LeBron James has publicly expressed his desire to share a team with his son before retiring. Considering LeBron will turn 40 this December, Bronny’s future could be linked to his father’s. However, according to reports from scouts, it won’t be easy for a team to decide to select him.
His Small Stature (1.87m): Bronny’s Main Handicap
Bronny James is a 19-year-old point guard standing at 1.87 meters (6’2″), which is considered small for the NBA. This height is his main handicap, even though he tries to make up for it with strong defensive play. However, his defense doesn’t seem enough to compensate for his lack of scoring ability.
Experts believe he could only play in the NBA as a secondary player. There are also concerns about his physical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest 10 months ago while training with his university team, USC.
Veteran scouts monitoring his progress at the Draft Combine in Chicago are not very optimistic about his chances of playing in the NBA. In fact, they are quite the opposite.
ESPN NBA analyst Marc Spears shared some opinions about Bronny after his initial practices and games on campus, and some of the feedback is harsh.
“He did some good things, but I still don’t think he’s ready for the NBA,” said one anonymous scout, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on discussing draft prospects publicly.
“He’s on the smaller side, so he’ll need to be an elite defender. It’s clear he has good vision, makes the right passes, and takes good shots. But he will need more time. If the Lakers don’t pick him, I don’t see anyone else drafting him.”
Highly Critical of His Skills
Spears shared another report from a scout who was much more critical of Bronny’s game. The scout noted that Bronny’s defensive abilities do not compensate for his short stature, as taller players, which is almost everyone, continuously sought to score over him.
“No, he’s not good enough. Maybe if he went back to college for one or two more years. But right now, he’s not an NBA player. He’s not even close.”
In the two practice games he played in Chicago, Bronny did not stand out. He scored four points and grabbed four rebounds in the first game, and in the second game, he slightly improved with 10 points and four rebounds, showing glimpses of solid defense against the ball handler. However, even this improvement did not convince the scouts, who were very harsh in their assessments of the legend’s son.
He’s a conventional athlete, not an elite one. Given his height, he should play as a point guard, but he’s not capable of running an offense. And he has serious issues playing as a shooting guard because he can’t shoot: 0/4 in one game and 1/3 in another. He needs screens to generate shots, and his only points come in the paint after fakes,” said one scout.
The criticisms didn’t stop there. “He can only play on the left side,” they noted as another major flaw.
“His strong suit should be defense, but he loses it as soon as there’s a switch. All the bigger players target him to score more easily in front of him.”
