The 2024 NBA Draft was must-see TV, but not for the reason an individual might think.
With the Los Angeles Lakers using their first-round pick to select Tennessee star guard Dalton Knecht, many felt compelled to tune into the second round of the draft to see if Los Angeles would select LeBron James' son, Bronny, in the final round.
After all, the James clan had an opportunity to make history as the first father-son duo to share the court in the big leagues, giving fans an incentive to be on the edge of their seats.
Ultimately, the Lakers selected the son of the franchise’s four-time NBA champion with the No. 55 overall pick. While there was speculation that James was largely involved in Los Angeles’ second-round draft decision, ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne recently insisted that the 21-time All-Star didn’t ask the Lakers to draft his eldest son.
“REPORT: ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne says that she ‘knows’ that LeBron James did NOT ask the Los Angeles Lakers to draft Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft,” Courtside Buzz wrote on X/Twitter Tuesday.
If Shelbourne’s report holds merit, it appears the Lakers weren’t heavily influenced by their 41-year-old superstar in the 2024 NBA Draft. Instead, the Lakers saw enough potential in James’ son to select him toward the end of the prestigious offseason event.
Some may find it hard to believe, as Bronny was an inefficient combo guard for USC during the 2023-24 college basketball season.
The 21-year-old, known for his play on the defensive end, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 36.6% from the field and 26.7% from three-point range.
However, it seems clear that Los Angeles was intrigued enough by a particular aspect of Bronny’s game to draft him nearly two years ago.
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