Friday morning, it was announced that LeBron James Jr. (Bronny) will test the draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility this spring. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given that Bronny was able to play only half of the season after dealing with a cardiovascular issue before the season began.
James is looking forward to showcasing his skills to NBA personnel. As a 6-foot-four guard, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and two assists while shooting 37% from the field. Many basketball fans argue that James wasn’t put in the best position to be effective due to the coaching at Southern Cal.
Bronny James is expected to enter the transfer portal. Where would you like to see him play next season? 👀 pic.twitter.com/dUKhxoPn2G
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) April 3, 2024
However, Bronny had the opportunities in the minutes to show what an effective player he could be in his freshman season, and it was somewhat lackluster. His father is putting a lot of pressure on him and makes him play in front of his personnel. However, this might help Bronny in the long run, as it will allow him to identify the areas he needs to work on based on team feedback.
Let’s examine four other freshman guards in the draft projected ahead of Bronny as of now. We’ll start with an assessment of James before we examine the other guards.
Let’s start with the pros; Bronny’s physical frame is similar to his father’s– solid frame, standing at 6’4” and 210 pounds. He has shown his willingness to become an exceptional defender. Another similarity he has with his father is his feelings about the game. Although he averaged two assists per game, when you look at the tape, you can see that Bronny was at the end of many hockey assists. Although he may not get credit at certain times, he often asserted an effort to create scoring opportunities on the offensive side of the ball.
James has a somewhat quick first step. He is a high-level athlete who has already shown deep range. As any young player, he could improve on all facets of his game. Often, freshmen have to get used to the speed of the game. Dealing with his cardiovascular scare was also seen as a setback in his growth in his freshman season.
James being able to be a lead guard on an NBA team is something scouts and GMs would like to see. His ability to manage an offense at his size can change the trajectory of his potential.
Let’s look at four players who are projected to be selected ahead of James. Two players his age and two prospective shooting guards ranked higher than him. James is not on many Mock Drafts, so we will compare two projected first-round picks and two projected second-round picks who all play the shooting guard position.
Rob Dillingham – NBA Draft Lottery
Dillingham is a player James has often seen throughout his AAU career. A lottery pick with potential, he had an impressive season while playing for the University of Kentucky. He averaged 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Despite being a bench player, he was an important part of the Wildcats’ success.
Rob is an offensive player who can get you a bucket on all three levels. He is a sneaky finisher with elite passing abilities, and his killer mentality has piqued the interest of NBA GMs. His footwork is above average and he can finish from any angle. He’s a true one-of-one player with the natural ability to take over games.
2024 NBA Draft Scouting Video on potential Top 3 pick Rob Dillingham just dropped on the @NoCeilingsNBA YouTube
Full video at the link ⬇️
📼: https://t.co/tkfX6GKuyU pic.twitter.com/JbcnTHrqlP
— NBA Draft Dude 🤙 (@CoreyTulaba) March 30, 2024
As deadly of a player as Dillingham is, he sometimes can try to force a pass or shot, but that’s not there. He is showing maturity in being a distributing guard in the NBA. With a smaller frame, as he continues to get stronger, he has the potential to be in the NBA for a long time.
Isaiah Collier – Projected Mid-Late First-Round Pick
Bronny’s teammate Isaiah Colier played point guard for USC last season. Due to his impressive performance, he is expected to be picked in the mid-late first round. With his impressive size, he proved himself to be a true leader and a legitimate point guard. He showed his ability to run the pick-and-roll to perfection during this season.
However, Collier, who ranks as one of the top point guards in the 2023 class, struggles to consistently keep the same rhythm throughout the season due to injuries. Breaking his hand in the middle of the season opened up an opportunity for James while not affecting his draft stock too much.
USC Trojans guard Isaiah Collier continues to climb up the board, landing at 15th in our latest 2024 #NBADraft Big Board
— The talented freshman floor general has the tools to be a dynamic guard who can bully his way to the basket.
— Collier finished the year strong, averaging… pic.twitter.com/DxmKVEf5ze
— No Ceilings (@NoCeilingsNBA) April 3, 2024
The Atlanta native averaged 16 points, four assists, three rebounds, and a steal and a half on 50% shooting from the field.
Antonio Reeves – Projected Second-Round pick
Antonio Reeves led the University of Kentucky this year. The projected second-round pick can score the ball from anywhere on the court. He is a volume shooter who can get hot in a hurry but can also go cold.
i’m going to miss watching Antonio Reeves hoop for Kentucky 😢pic.twitter.com/gn21cgbX3O
— Big Blue Carti (@BigBlueCarti) March 25, 2024
Two things the projected second-round pick has that you can’t teach are his confidence and his size. He is a 6’6” wing at 195 pounds who has shown signs of having the ability to guard at a high level.
A deep offensive bag, however, is the next step in Reeves’ game, and it is how he will be effective without the ball in his hand.
Carlton Carrington – Projected Second-Round Pick
Carrington was a four-star recruit who came out of high school committed to the University of Pittsburgh. He flew under the radar but came on the scene fairly quickly when he had a triple-double in his first collegiate start against North Carolina A&T.
A very mature guard for his age, he often makes winning plays. He has a knack for grabbing rebounds at a high level. He is a smart player who has shown that he can distribute and score at a high level.
The Baltimore native can make the NBA GM look smart when he selects him projectively in the second round. After workouts, he may move up to the first round.
6’5 freshman Carlton “Bub” Carrington has been looking like a first round pick so far and had another great game today:
19 points
4 rebounds
7 assists( 1 TOV)
5-9 FGHe’s been the truth so far, has range and a great facilitator pic.twitter.com/Hq0o6X9by7
— PDT (@PDTScouting) November 14, 2023
He’ll have to become a better defender and improve his shot selection. However, that comes with age and time. He has someone in November who will be on an NBA roster in some effective role for a team. Potentially becoming a franchise cornerstone one day.
As we look back on all four of these players, two things that they all have over James are the amount of film showing them being effective players on the basketball court and the numbers to back up their talent at the Collegiate level.
Some believe James will go back to college unless an NBA team gives him a guarantee. However, that’s the beauty of being able to test the NBA waters. The next month of workouts will be intriguing. The four players named in the article above will more than likely be matched up with James, possibly at one of these visits.
Will James be able to hold his own? We’ll have to wait and find out.
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