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

Pro: Bronny James wants to play defense

As previously stated, Bronny James patterns his game after the likes of Jrue Holiday, Davion Mitchell, and Derrick White. In addition to being more stylistically realistic comparisons for himself, they're three players who all thrive in the same area of the game: Defense.

If the Los Angeles Lakers were to draft James, that certainly implies that he'd be prioritizing defense as his primary form of on-court value to the team.

Any player who wants to play defense will have a chance to appeal to a head coach. Working tirelessly on that end of the floor won't generate as many headlines as scoring 20 points, but it's of equal, if not greater, significance when said player isn't a genuine superstar.

For a Lakers team that's thin in both its depth and its options in free agency, adding a defensive-minded player who's willing to earn minutes through hard work is worth considering.

James was measured at just 6'1.5" without shoes, but he has a strong 210-pound frame and an impressive 6'7.25 wingspan. For perspective, that wingspan is just a quarter-inch shorter than White's, is a quarter-inch longer than Holiday's, and is a full three inches longer than Mitchell's.

Not only did James set reasonable NBA comparisons for himself, but he did so with his physical tools in mind—40.5" vertical included.