Draymond Green Names the 19-Year-Old NBA Starlet Who Cut Short Bronny James’ College Run; Makes Bold Lakers Bet

LeBron James’s dream is finally about to come true. Yes, Bronny was drafted as pick #55 by LA Lakers. This is big news because it will be the first father-son duo to share the court in NBA history. And Draymond Green had no doubts about Bronny’s abilities. “Bronny is going to end up being a better pro than a lot of these players in this draft because he has the athleticism, the basketball IQ, plays the game the right way,” he predicted.

On The Draymond Green Show on YouTube, the athlete shared his thoughts about James’s son. He gave a bold prediction too. “I think he’s going to be a good shooter in the NBA, and I think a lot of people judge Bronny off of his production last year at USC, which is a little skewed because for anybody coming back in the middle of a season and trying to play when everybody’s in tip-top shape is hard. To do that as a newcomer, as a freshman, as a rookie, miss training camp, miss some of the seasons, and you come in. It’s nearly impossible.”

Let us not forget how he had a cardiac arrest last year in July. A congenital heart defect was responsible for it. He had to miss the first eight games of the season because of it and his numbers suffered. He was able to make a full return in November. Thus, Green further shared, “He did it. And I think also when you look at the team he was on, Isaiah Collier, who was a first-round pick, it’s a point guard, it’s more of a score-first point guard, getting downhill. And Bronny is a point guard, playing the two… So that’s how these things work.”

2023-24 statistical comparison: James versus Collier

“#1 player in the class, coming out of high school. So he’s gonna get the point guard spot and you’re going to move Bronny off the ball. And in basketball, we always tend to think like positions don’t matter, but I would love to see you take a wide receiver, and put him at offensive tackle or like take the center and put them at the quarterback. I would love to see you do that, but in basketball, if you’re a true point guard, and somebody take you off the ball, it matters.”

Well, he’s got that point right. Let us illustrate this in the basketball language. If Steph Curry, for instance, is asked to play like LeBron James or Michael Jordan did, he would probably not be able to perform. Curry is different. He shoots nail-biting 3-pointers from almost half the court. Probably this is what went wrong with Bronny’s performance at USC. Green feels that with Bronny, things were taken out of proportion in terms of his averages at college.

“Nonetheless, I’m just going to take the bet that this kid works hard, which he does. He has LeBron James’ DNA, and I’mma take the bet on that. And then you watch him play, he’s a good basketball player.”

Now, many people believe Bronny is in an elevated position because of his father. On the other hand, people such as Green believe the young player has got the right tools to be a good player. This has made Bronny quite a polarizing figure.

Regardless, Green is all set to place his best bets on Bronny and feels he can do wonders in the coming years! “Imma take that bet because you got him at 55, so if he even becomes a rotational player, you did great. And I think he can become a rotational player in the next two years. So, shout-out to Bronny,” he opined.

So, even if Bronny does not play like his famous father, he can work hard and stand where he’s destined to reach. Even Jonathan Givony reported that James Jr. was seen as the most improved prospect in the country before his cardiac arrest.

However, Bronny’s role in the Lakers will be a lot more defined. He will be a 3-and-D guard. He takes pride in being a part of the defense. But he has weaknesses too. Remember how Green said Bronny can be a great rotational player? Well, for that to happen, the young athlete needs to perfect his 3-point shot. An undersized guard who can’t shoot will put him in a difficult predicament.

On similar lines, Draymond Green previously had some advice for Bronny James. What was it?

When DrayMagic had valuable advice for the ex-USC guard

“Find you a great vet because there’s no one that’s going to show you more, teach you more, mentor you more, care more than a great vet.” This was Green’s pearly wisdom for Bronny and all the other draft prospects in April. Considering the season the youngster had with the Trojans, it was a given that he would have to put in the extra work to make up for the lost time. Working towards his goal was never a problem for Bronny.

However, the NBA landscape is drastically different from that of college basketball. And the transition from a college player to a professional can be difficult but not impossible. Also, it is a journey that can be easier with the help of the right veteran. Of course, Bronny has one of the basketball greats at home, but LeBron James is also his father.

On the other hand, were he to approach someone else to be his mentor, chances are that the player development that Green emphasized would take priority. With the support system and the genes Bronny is blessed with, it isn’t too hard to agree with Draymond Green’s prediction for young James’ future. Do you? Would you place your bets on Bronny? Let us know in the comments.

 But before you go, check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe.

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