Bronny James, the eldest son of LeBron, is set to be one of the main highlights during the upcoming 2024 NBA draft. At 19, the young star will be entering the big league after having devoted less than an anticipated time playing amateur ball. Because of his father’s popularity and the expectations placed on him because of his surname, the player received a high NIL (name, image, and likeliness) value. However, with time, it’s seen quite a steep drop.

Before joining USC and their basketball team, the Trojans, Bronny was valued at around $5.9 million. This high worth was placed on the player because of his partnership with brands like Nike, Beats by Dre, etc. However, in July 2023, a few months before kicking off his college career, he unexpectedly suffered a cardiac arrest. Upon recovery, he was cleared to return by the end of November. By then, his value had dropped to $4.5 million. Bronny then attempted to establish a respectable stat line in the next months.

Whether it was the recovery from his cardiac arrest or not, Bronny struggled at the USC Trojans. In 25 games, he only managed to average 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. His field goal percentage was limited to 36.6%, and, at 26.7%, his 3P success rate was even lower. By April, his value did not increase but rather saw a big decrease, going down to $3.7 million. After bidding adieu to USC and having placed his name for the NBA draft, his NIL Value now stands at $3.2 million. He’s faced a $582,000 loss!

Within 11 months, Bronny James has lost over $2.7 million. With his father’s name no longer being the factor that determines his worth, the 19-year-old’s under-par stat line and his health issues have caused him to see such a downfall.

LeBron can lose over $50 million if Bronny James joins the Phoenix Suns!

Because of his college stats, there were rumors that Bronny James was not the top choice, or any kind of choice, for several NBA franchises going into the draft. However, with just weeks to go, two teams have come out as potential homes for the young star. They are the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron’s home base, and the Phoenix Suns. The same rumor seemed to have been proven true after Bronny accepted offers to engage in pre-draft workouts for these two franchises. If he heads to the LA team, then it would be a father-son pairing. However, if the 19-year-old joins Kevin Durant and Co., then the decision will cost LeBron.

Even before Bronny placed his name for the NBA Draft, LeBron James, who will turn 40 by the end of the year, stated that he would like to play alongside his son before he considers retirement. This means that there is a good chance that if another NBA franchise takes in Bronny, then the All-Time Scorer will part ways with the Lakers and head there.

LeBron is set to earn over $51.415 million during the 2024-25 season. However, the Phoenix Suns have already committed a huge chunk of money to their star players. Spending any more will cause them to go beyond the recently implemented ‘Second Apron’ and impose several penalties on them. According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, while joining the Suns would allow LeBron to join forces with the likes of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker, he “would be sacrificing almost $50 million next season” as well.

Given that LeBron James is already a billionaire, losing $50 million may not seem like a major loss. However, joining the Suns is just a rumor that probably will or will not be justified in the coming days.

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