Despite Being the Same Age as Victor Wembanyama, Why Is Bronny James Not Playing in the NBA?

Victor Wembanyama was the most sought-after draft this season, and the Spurs jumped at the occasion and picked him as the No.1 overall draft. He was the most hyped prospect this year, and despite the mounting pressure and expectations, he has proved to be a deadly offensive and defensive presence. This season, the 19-year-old Frenchman has locked his target on the Rookie of the Year title.

While all of that is fine and dandy, we have on the other side, Bronny James, LeBron‘s eldest son, who happens to be the same age as Wemby, but somehow he still hasn’t made his way to the big league. And if we think about it, LeBron was also about 19 when he was drafted into the NBA. Well, there could be one too many reasons for this; let us delve into them.

Bronny James was not eligible for the draft

Right off the bat, the number one reason is that Bronny was not eligible, at least for this season. According to NBA regulations, a player must be at least 19 years of age during the draft calendar year and have graduated from high school at least a year prior, and Bronny did not fit the criteria because he was still 18 when the 2023-24 NBA Draft took place. It was only on 6th October that he turned 19. So, technically, he will only be qualified for the 2024-25 season.

Moreover, earlier this year in May, Bronny announced his commitment to the University of California, where he will be playing for the USC’s Trojans basketball team. Big man James was very proud of this decision, as Bronny became the first person from the family to attend college. There is a possibility that Bronny could leave USC after playing one season to join his father in the NBA, but that’s for time to tell. Currently, he holds an NIL valuation of $5.9 million and has deals with big brands like Beats by Dre, Nike, and PSD Underwear.

Bronny’s cardiac arrest might slow him down

The 19-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest in the early summer of this year during a basketball workout drill at USC. It was only last month that the doctors gave him a green signal to resume basketball activities. An excited Bronny made a comeback as he geared up to make his USC debut this Sunday. This heart issue might also be a hindrance to his NBA career, and for now, he seems to be taking it slow.

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Being King James’ son has got to be a double-edged sword as it comes with its share of unreasonable attention, expectations, and pressure. So, Bronny was never short of analysts and scouts keeping a close eye on him, and he has very often shown signs of greatness. In the time he spends with USC, he can hone his skills and work on building physicality until he makes it to the big league to play among pros and, most importantly, with his father.

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Do you think Bronny James is ready to enter the NBA or does he still need some time to work on those skills? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!