'Nowhere near ready': Bronny James faces tough decision on NBA future

Per Kevin O'Connor of the Ringer, an NBA general manager said "Bronny is nowhere near ready" and that "he should go back to school to develop at his own pace or he risks getting lost in the shuffle."

James Jr. had a lackluster freshman year at USC, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting a paltry 36.6 percent from the field. He also dealt with a heart issue that sidelined him for the start of the season.

Looking at his tape from this past season with USC, we see a player who has the tools to carve out a successful NBA career — a likely byproduct of his access to top-of-the-line training — but lacks the consistency to be regarded as a top prospect.

"Bronny is an undersized non-shooting guard. The shot looks good but doesn’t go in," an NBA scout told O'Connor.

LeBron has made it known that he would love the opportunity to play an NBA season with his son, which undoubtedly played a role in Bronny's decision to declare for the draft. 

While admirable, this desire raises several concerns, the most important being the fact that Bronny is clearly not ready for the NBA and would benefit from another year in college. 

The only reason a team would consider drafting Bronny would be the chance of enticing LeBron to sign with them. This would turn Bronny into more of a mascot than an NBA player, stifling his development and potentially damaging his confidence at the same time.

With the May 29 deadline to withdraw from the draft looming, Bronny faces a difficult decision. Does he move forward with declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft and satisfy his father's dream or withdraw and take another year in college to better his chances for a successful NBA career, albeit without his father as a potential teammate?