One of the most enduring storylines in recent seasons has been the endless speculation that the Los Angeles Lakers could draft Bronny James in 2024. James stands on his own merit as a prospect, but is inevitably linked to Los Angeles due to who his father is: Lakers superstar LeBron James.
While some see signs of doom and gloom, others see the positive in Los Angeles potentially uniting father and son in the purple and gold.
Beyond the shock factor and potential merchandise sales, however, is an interesting conversation about a genuine NBA Draft prospect. A four-star recruit coming out of high school, per 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN, James has been on the radar and in the spotlight for several years.
James is now listed as the No. 53 ranked prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft by CBS Sports, No. 54 by Jonathan Givony of ESPN, and No. 58 by Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.
In other words, James is widely regarded by NBA Draft analysts as a player who should be selected at some point in the second round. The Lakers project to have that opportunity, as they currently own the Nos. 17 and 55 picks.
The question is: Should the Lakers actually draft Bronny James?
Pro: Bronny James has realistic personal expectations
The single biggest reason the Lakers shouldn't write James off is the fact that he's realistic about the type of player he can become. Many enter the NBA Draft process likening themselves to the players they idolized or patterned their game after, which oftentimes results in comparisons to All-Stars.
In the case of James, however, his ambition is more realistic and thus an appealing aspect of what the Lakers would be getting if they were to select him.
HoopsHype asked a group of 2024 NBA Draft prospects who they emulate and look up to. It was an eye-opening article that went a long way toward suggesting that some paths to success could be traveled more realistically than others.
One of the players HoopsHype interviewed was James, who provided an answer that was equal parts surprising and encouraging.
"“Guys like Davion Mitchell, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White who excel in their role, get good money and get good playing time from it because they’re locked into that role and know what they’re supposed to do.”"
James could've named All-NBA level players who consistently have the ball in their hands, as many others who were interviewed did. Instead, he named role players—Holiday is an All-Star, but isn't featured as prominently on offense anymore—who thrive in the way the team asks them to.
Realistic ambitions can go a long way, and it's certainly encouraging to see James set out to become the type of player who doesn't need the ball to be effective.