Bronny James’ Bleak Financial Future in NBA Might Not Matter Much Due to LeBron James’ Desire

Bronny James has a big decision to make this summer. LeBron James’ elder son is eligible to enter the 2024 NBA draft after the end of this season. The 19-year-old is a freshman at the University of Southern California and plays the guard position for the USC Trojans. Bronny will need to decide whether he wants to continue playing in college or fulfill LeBron’s desire to share an NBA court with his son.

Despite Bronny being eligible for the 2024 NBA draft, the future does not look very promising for him. According to the latest 2024 mock NBA draft, Bronny might go undrafted this year. The mock draft did not show good signs for the James Family, as Bronny got no draft projections. There are several players in this year’s draft who have a far better skillset than Bronny James. The 19-year-old is not a young prodigy like his father in high school. Bronny is averaging only 5.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in his Freshman year at USC.

Teams might pick Bronny James to get their hands on LeBron

Despite Bronny’s disappointing draft projections, any team might pick him up if he becomes an undrafted free agent. Adding Bronny James to the roster increases the possibility for a franchise to bag LeBron James during the final leg of his career. That will increase the popularity and revenue of any franchise, regardless of how the father-son duo performs on the court. LeBron has expressed the desire to play with his son multiple times throughout his career. When asked who he wanted to play with the most, King James said, “Bronny is number 1 on my fu*king list.” So, LeBron will most likely join the team his son plays for to achieve his ultimate goal.

However, going undrafted means Bronny might have to settle for a low-paying contract. Even though Bronny James might hurt his financial future by joining the NBA as an undrafted free agent, his father’s desires might trump the money aspect. Bronny is currently the highest-ranked college athlete in terms of NIL valuation at $5.8 million. And he could make more money staying in college than going to the NBA undrafted. However, Bronny could give up all the money to play with LeBron and fulfill his dream. LeBron revealed during the All-Star Weekend that the decision to declare for the NBA draft is totally up to Bronny. And LeBron claimed finances will have no effect on the final call, “It’s definitely not financial.”

Bronny James might not be NBA-ready yet

Although many teams would love to be host to the father-son duo of LeBron and Bronny in the upcoming season, it might be a better decision for Bronny to stay in college for another year. Logically, Bronny might not be NBA-ready yet. He is only 19 years old and does not have enough playing experience to make an impact in the NBA. Bronny suffered a sudden cardiac arrest last year that decreased his playing time even more. Even teams might not want to risk wasting a draft pick for a few years of glory with LeBron and Bronny.

Read More: Despite USC Coach’s Optimism, 19YO Bronny’s Struggles Could Hamper With LeBron James’ Biggest Dream

So, it will not be very surprising if Bronny decides to stay in college to develop his game and enter the NBA as a drafted player another year. With the way LeBron is playing at age 39, he still has a few years left to team up with his son in the NBA. Bronny James has yet to break his silence regarding his decision to enter the 2024 NBA draft. It will be interesting to see if LeBron’s desires motivate Bronny to declare for this year’s draft despite the disappointing mock draft and bleak financial returns. If Bronny makes it to the league this year, it will be a historic moment for the James Family and the NBA.