Bronny James Joining the NBA Draft After One Year in College
He hopes to follow in his dad's footsteps.
Bronny James' road to the college basketball court hasn't been without its obstacles. The USC freshman suffered a cardiac arrest during a practice session last summer, effectively benching him for a good chunk of the season. Now, after just a few months of playing for the Trojans, he has his sights set on the NBA.
On April 5, James announced that he was declaring for this year's NBA Draft, which could possibly lead to him either becoming teammates with or an eventual opponent to his dad LeBron James. However, he isn't officially leaving college yet, and is simultaneously enrolled in the NCAA transfer portal.
"I've had a year with some ups and downs but all added to growth for me as a man, student, and athlete. I've made the decision to enter the NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility, and will also be entering the NCAA transfer portal," the 19-year-old guard wrote in an Instagram post. "Thank you to USC for an amazing freshman year, and as always thankful for my family, friends, doctors, athletic trainers, and fans for their support."
The move comes just a month after James was dropped from ESPN's mock draft, which prompted criticism of his dad by people who believed he pushed his son too hard too fast. LeBron, for his part, pushed back on those claims.
"Can y'all please just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball?" he wrote in a since-deleted social media post, per USA Today. "The work and results will ultimately do the talking no matter what he decides to do. If y’all don’t know he doesn’t care what a mock draft says, he just works! Earned, not given!"
The 2024 NBA Draft will take place June 26 and 27 in New York City.