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After plenty of anticipation, the 2024 NBA Draft is finally over. The Los Angeles Lakers left Brooklyn with two new prospects in their ranks, first selecting Tennessee sharpshooter Dalton Knecht at No. 17 before using the 55th-overall selection on USC’s Bronny James, much like his father always wanted.
With Bronny officially making his way to Los Angeles, there’s been a ton of discussion surrounding his playing future and what it means to the Lakers. Is the 19-year-old guard a legitimate NBA prospect? Or is he only getting this opportunity because of LeBron James’ power and influence?
Let’s dive into what the Lakers drafting Bronny James means for the franchise both in terms of the 2024-25 NBA season and beyond.
Brony James College Recap
Before Bronny James was even drafted, NBA experts often discussed whether or not he deserved a look at this year’s draft. After all, the USC product’s college numbers left much to be desired, resulting in people wondering if he’d even be in the mix if his last name wasn’t James.
Offensively, Bronny didn’t show much during his time with the Trojans. In the 25 games that he suited up for, the Los Angeles native only averaged 4.8 points on .366/.267/.676 splits while playing 19.3 minutes per game. He only recorded a double-digit point total on three occasions and was even held pointless on four.
It was at the point where some experts thought James’ lack of a jumper would be the death of his NBA dreams.
Will Bronny James’ offensive struggles follow him from college to the NBA?
But Bronny’s collegiate performance wasn’t all bad. On top of adding 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game with just 1.1 turnovers, he received some praise for solid defensive play. He averaged 0.8 steals per game, which equated to 2.3 steals per 100 possessions.
Standing at only 6-foot-2, James must develop a jumper if he wants to find NBA success. If he doesn’t, his ceiling will likely be as a defensive guard who comes off the bench for weaker matchups. Fortunately, new Lakers head coach J.J. Redick was one of the league’s best shooters in recent years, leaving time to tell if he has what it takes to properly develop the franchise’s newest prospect.
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Lakers: Bronny James 2024-25 NBA Outlook
Now that we know who he’s playing for, many are wondering if Bronny James will see a serious role during the 2024-25 NBA campaign. While anything is possible, that likely won’t be the case next season.
Again, James’ lone college season left much to be desired. It was even at the point where many that he should pull out of the NBA Draft and opt for another year or two in the NCAA to improve. It’s just hard to imagine him going for all that criticism and concerns to serve legitimate minutes in Los Angeles’ rotation.
Let’s also not forget that Redick is a first-year head coach who’s tasked with bringing an NBA Championship back to the franchise. He’s likely going to role with more trusted and proven players over a rookie with plenty of room to grow.
Will Bronny James play significant minutes for the Lakers as a rookie?
If anything, I could see James splitting most of the season between being Los Angeles’ 15th man and playing with the G League’s South Bay Lakers. It’s the perfect compromise between giving him a taste of the NBA life while ensuring that he receives some form of playing time.
That isn’t to see that he won’t play any games with the big club. The Lakers will likely deploy Bronny for a minute or two at the end of the blowout and you know they’re going to try to get him a chance or two to play alongside LeBron. The publicity that’d come from a mere photo or father-to-son assist is just too incredible to pass up.
You can also argue that drafting Bronny was necessary for keeping LeBron in town. The four-time NBA MVP is a free agent this summer, so adding his son gives him an incentive to stay around for the foreseeable future.
In other words, Bronny James likely won’t see a concrete role until the 2025-26 season at the earliest. He still has a lot to prove when it comes to showing that he belongs in the NBA and will likely deal with many obstacles until he gets there. His outlook isn’t as poor as some fans make it seem, but it’s clear that there’s an uphill battle in his future.
As for the franchise’s title outlook, the Lakers currently own the ninth-best 2025 NBA Championship odds (+2500) on BetOnline.
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