Lakers News: Rich Paul Places Simple Demand On Rob Pelinka’s Shoulder After Bronny James Limits His Draft Options

A move that surprised many, USC freshman guard Bronny James declared for the 2024 NBA draft, giving up his remaining collegiate eligibility. The statement came only hours before the NCAA deadline, with Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul telling ESPN that James is 100% committed to pursuing a professional basketball career. He began the pre-draft process with an ESPN 100 ranking of No. 54 prospect. However, Paul stressed his growth, claiming he’s gone from being an unlikely prospect to a serious candidate to be selected in the draft.

By impressing the entire NBA World with his Draft Combine performance, Bronny proved Paul right and received workout calls from multiple teams. However, the 19-year-old denied most of them and shortlisted a few out of which the obvious choice was the Los Angeles Lakers because of his dad (LeBron James) and one of the other choices that was a shocker to a few was the Phoenix Suns.

After this news broke out, ESPN interviewed Paul where he said, “The Lakers need to look at Bronny like everyone else. If it’s not the Lakers, that’s great. I won’t be mad if it’s not. It’s obvious that people hear the conversation around the dad and son playing together, but that’s not our focus. If it happens organically, great. I’m not building on that”.

Paul went a step ahead to emphasize the importance of finding the appropriate team for Bronny’s growth, highlighting aspects like the team’s philosophy, opportunity, and financial commitment. He said he doesn’t want to put any “unrealistic expectations on Bronny”. Further adding, “He’s far from a finished product. But he has a hell of a start. He’s positioned well. … I don’t see him not getting drafted, but if it got to a point where the situations didn’t make sense and we needed to go undrafted, that’s fine.”

An undrafted player right now, Bronny could sign a free-agent contract with anyone in the coming month. But we’ve heard little from Bronny himself on what his end goals are.

What is Bronny James’ goal for entering the NBA?

Bronny’s career decision was constantly under scrutiny because he is the son of the legendary LeBron James. He has always said that he wants to be a professional basketball player, which has put him under pressure to satisfy his father’s expectations. However, when questioned about his goal of entering the NBA, the 19-year-old had a pretty amusing response. After the draft combine, he was asked whether he wanted to be a floor general who commanded respect from defenders, similar to his father.

Answering that Bronny said, “My goal isn’t really to be that guy, there are a lot of guys in the NBA that have that role already. So, my current goal is to just fit into a role the team needs, that’s what’s gonna get me drafted and be the best player and excel in that role. I don’t really think about being that guy on the team right now cause there’s already those.”

So, Bronny James made it crystal clear that he does not want to follow in his father’s footsteps and is entering the league to carve out his own niche. And regardless of which team picks him on the draft night, with the help of Klutch Sports and Rich Paul, Bronny James is prepared to make a huge impact at a professional level and make a name for himself in the league where his dad has carved an everlasting legacy.

Currently, Bronny is one of the fastest and the most fierce contenders at the NBA draft combine in Chicago. He ranked 71 among all the participants in different 3-pointer shooting drills, plus he could also get his name attested to 13 points in a team effort. His participation at the Lakers’ practice facility helped people take a sneak peek into his performance and his shooting abilities.

He also enrolled at the USC last year, showcasing his talent at the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit. His efforts later were derailed because of his cardiac arrest, leading to his treatment of his congenital heart defect, sidelining him for several months at a stretch. But once he was back, he made a college debut, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, even though his team finished in an unpleasant manner.

He got his medical clearance to be drafted by the NBA Fitness team to participate in the Draft Combine. It remains to be seen what wonders can he achieve in the future now.