March Madness certainly captivates the basketball world each year, but this year, the women’s tournament seemed to steal the spotlight, drawing as much, if not more, attention and viewership than the men’s. The Elite Eight meeting between Iowa and LSU, a rematch of last year’s National Championship, garnered a record 12.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched college basketball game ever on ESPN. That game pitted two of the most popular players in the women’s game, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese, and LeBron James believes that this star power in the women’s college basketball landscape is what is driving the popularity of the women’s game. The same star power that the men’s team lacks, thanks to the NBA’s draft rules.

The fourth episode of Mind the Game podcast drops this Wednesday. For this episode, among other things, the hosts LeBron James and JJ Redick discuss the state of women’s college basketball. According to Redick, the women’s basketball landscape has more icons compared to their male counterparts. LeBron James explains that it is because of the different draft rules across the leagues. While the NBA allows college players to become one-and-done prospects, WNBA rules stipulate that they cannot declare for the draft until they turn 21, necessitating at least three years of college play.

This rule, though seemingly restrictive, actually offers a silver lining- it gives the women players time to grow their profile.

“In the women’s game, you have the ability to build your legacy and build your rapport and brand with that fan base, with that community… You know you are watching these girls, year after year after year, continue to grow. So when you get a popular basketball player to stay on campus, I think that has a lot to do with the popularity of their sport,” stated James.

In another video, James mentioned that the transfer portal further makes it harder for players to become familiar with fans. Ironically, his eldest son, Bronny, has also entered the transfer portal and could potentially become a one-and-done prospect. Is a father-duo team on the cards?

Bronny James declares for the NBA Draft while also entering the transfer portal

Since Bronny landed at USC as a top-20 recruit and potential first-round NBA draft pick, the evident plan for him was to spend one year in college before going pro and joining his father in the NBA, perhaps even on the same team. However, a cardiac arrest threw a wrench in the works. Last year, in July, James suffered a life-threatening cardiac arrest while practicing at USC’s Galen Center. The 19-year-old was later diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and subsequently underwent surgery to fix the issue. The recovery period sidelined him for nearly five months before resuming play mid-season.

Unfortunately, USC missed out on the NCAA tournament after the Arizona Wildcats dispatched them from the Pac-12 quarterfinals with a 70-49 blowout loss. James averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 25 games, starting six of them in his first year. After completing an underwhelming freshman season at USC, Bronny announced that he plans to enter the NBA Draft and the transfer portal, leaving both options open for next season.

Read More: Is Bronny James Ready for 2024 Draft? Skeptical NBA Veteran Responds to Early Declaration