Bronny James: LeBron James Jr., often known as “Bronny,” is close to deciding where to play college basketball. However, college coaches aren’t very excited about the combo guard’s current game, other than his last name and potential.
Bronny is a four-star prospect in the incoming Class of 2023, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 190 pounds. He did not sign his National Letter of Intent during the Early Signing Period earlier this month, so when the Regular Signing Period begins on April 12, 2023, he will formally pledge to his future program.
While finishing his senior year at Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles, Bronny is inking substantial NIL contracts with significant businesses. Currently, Memphis, Ohio State, and USC have made official offers to the son of the four-time NBA Finals champion and 18-time All-Star, and Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky have all expressed interest.
Most likely, Bronny will have his pick of the bunch. He is talented enough to earn the opportunity to play wherever in the nation that he chooses. His last name is undoubtedly helpful.
However, other people think Bronny isn’t the player people make him out to be—at least not yet. He still has a long way to go in his growth, according to the college basketball coaches who recently spoke to The Athletic under cover of anonymity.
Is Bronny James Ready?
Most coaches and scouts who talked with The Athletic don’t think Bronny will be prepared by year two in a world where generational basketball superstars attend college for one year before entering the NBA Draft. By year three, he might not be prepared.
“The expectation doesn’t match the talent level, or at least not yet,” said one coach. “And that’s where it gets messy.”
“Right now, he just doesn’t have the talent where you’re saying, ‘OK, I’m bringing him in, and he’s my guy,’” said another. “He might get there, but he’s not there yet.”
Regarding the advantages, there are several. Bronny plays with a lot of agility, have a good basketball IQ, and makes wise judgments.
But given that, why hasn’t he committed if he is as good as or better than the other players in his class?
“If it were a no-brainer, he’d be (signed by) Duke. It would be done,” one coach said. “Or Kentucky. There’s a reason he’s not.”
Once Bronny arrives at college, another problem will arise. Because of his name, LeBron James Jr., it would be not easy to keep him on the bench.
“You’re going to need to play him,” one coach says. Another coach explained that it’s a dual-edged sword.
He declared, “This is LeBron’s child.” “What are you doing if you play him for 30 minutes and lose? But would people think you’re a jerk for not playing LeBron’s child if you give him eight minutes and you win?
As a result, there has to be an internal discussion among programs interested in hiring James Jr.
“Do we want this?” asked another coach. “Do we want this attention? This pressure? You’ll sell many tickets, but it’s a lot to manage.”
There is no disputing that Bronny James can hoop at the end of the day. He is a fantastic athlete.
What remains to be seen is where he goes and what he does when he gets there. Bronny can elevate a program, but can he do more than a supporting role? All we can do is wait and see. Follow Newswatchlist.com for more information. You can also leave your thoughts in the comment section, and don’t forget to bookmark our website.