Rumor: USC freshman Bronny James drawing NBA draft consideration
USC Trojans freshman Bronny James is reportedly drawing NBA draft consideration by multiple teams, according to Shams Charania on FanDuel TV.
James was projected to be a first-round pick this year before suffering a cardiac arrest at a team workout in July. He missed the first eight games of the season and was cleared to return to practice and game situations last month.
The 19-year-old has made 10 appearances with the Trojans and has started in each of the last two games for the first time this season. He is coming off one of his best outings of the year, recording 11 points, six assists, and five rebounds in a loss to Arizona on Wednesday.
The performance likely helped improve his draft positioning.
When I talk to people around the league, he is on the draft boards of multiple teams. It is curious: What if he gets drafted somewhere not in L.A.? LeBron James does have a player option this summer.
"When I talk to people around the league, [Bronny James] is on the draft boards of multiple teams."@ShamsCharania on LeBron watching Bronny's USC game during his postgame interviews.
📺: https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g pic.twitter.com/9N6SmOU2fD
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 18, 2024
James is averaging 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists on 36.8% shooting from the field with the Trojans. He has scored in double figures three times, including a career-high 15 points in a loss to Oregon State on Dec. 30.
The 6-foot-4 guard is a highly-touted prospect, given his athleticism and defensive skill set. He has shown promise as a strong perimeter defender with his size and instincts, though is still working to get it going on the offensive end.
James will likely need to show continued growth and improvement over the rest of the season to earn serious draft consideration this year. He could also elect to stay at USC for another year but appears to be on teams’ radars at this stage of his career.
