Pros and cons of Lakers selecting Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft

Con: No one really knows how good Bronny James is

Any time a player is looking to make the transition to the NBA, there's a significant measure of optimism that goes into their being drafted. No matter how great the film may look, there's no way to guarantee that a player's success will translate to the NBA game or lifestyle.

In the case of Bronny James, there's even more uncertainty surrounding him due to the fact that no one knows how good he even is at this stage of his career.

James went into cardiac arrest just before the start of his freshman season at USC. Thankfully, he survived. As a result of the horrifying experience, however, he ultimately missed the start of his freshman season, as well as months of practices that could've gotten him up to speed.

As former USC head coach Andy Enfield appropriately stated, expecting James to do anything of note after going into cardiac arrest mere months before the season was unrealistic.

"Anytime a young man misses four months, including the first part of the season, it’s hard to just start playing in December,” USC head coach Andy Enfield told Yahoo Sports. “You’re behind on a variety of things, including conditioning, timing on offense and defense, the system you’re trying to learn. It’s really hard as a freshman, but I give him a ton of credit. He showed up every day focused, he works extremely hard and is a great teammate."

Enfield offered the type of take that simply can't be disputed: Going into cardiac arrest would take its toll on anyone.

For as true as that may be, it doesn't change the fact that NBA scouts don't know what to expect from James. He may become a high-level player who one day works his way into a starting lineup. There's simply not enough film to be confident in any version of a projection.

A strong work ethic and a widely praised demeanor certainly helps, but without the extensive film that exists for most other prospects, this is the epitome of a high-risk selection.