Bronny James Eyes The NBA, While Keeping Options Open

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans looks on in the second half of a ... [+] quarterfinal game against the Arizona Wildcats during the Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats defeated the Trojans 70-49. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Bronny James - the son of NBA great LeBron James - has entered both the 2024 NBA Draft, and the NCAA transfer protocol, meaning regardless of what's going to happen, USC isn't likely to see one of the most famous teenage basketball players in the world suit up for them again.

For James, entering the draft doesn't necessarily mean a lot. Prospects can always remove their name before the draft, maintaining their draft eligibility, if they feel they aren't getting good feedback in workouts, or via the combine.

Of course, this is where a layer of significant complexity throws James off that path.

For years, James has been rumored to find himself playing next to his dad, LeBron, due to the latter's near-constant reminder of his wish of playing on the same as his son.

As LeBron remains one of the most influential players in the league, and an All-NBA caliber player, it stands to reason that some teams might provide James with positive feedback during workouts, exclusively to see him motivated to keep his name in the draft. If so, a team could in theory select him highly, with the expectation of LeBron signing in free agency to fulfill his dream of sharing the court with his son.

Essentially, there's a scenario in play here where teams who might not even be all that interested in James, are willing to select him high in the draft for reasons that have nothing to do with him. Because, at the end of the day, if the selection og James leads directly to LeBron signing, it's worth relinquishing the chance of drafting someone better.

Because there are better players.

James, who played 25 games in his freshman season at USC, averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on the year, playing just under 20 minutes, and hitting a disappointing 36.6% from the field.

James was coming off a cardiac arrest event, which is also sure to be noted as a major red medial flag in his report, which could explain his modest production.

Regardless of what caused his play to be less spectacular than expected, NBA teams aren't exactly drooling at the idea of a player who is clearly years away from being a legitimate prospect.

Furthermore, there's an ethical dilemma in play as well.

Selecting the services of a young player based almost exclusively off his father's merits isn't exactly a compliment to James himself. In fact, it turns him into a nepotism selection, which James has never asked to become.

For LeBron to potentially dictate the draft slot area of his son seems on some level unfair to the younger James, who assuredly would wish to be proven off his own accord.

Of course, nothing is written in stone quite yet. James could return to college, find a new school, and spend the next few years developing, until he's ready for the NBA - if he ever is.

That seems unlikely given that LeBron is 39 years old, and is inching closer to the end of his career. The quicker the two share the floor, the quicker LeBron can ride off into the sunset, which means it's probably not long before James finds himself fully immersed in the draft waters, going into June with a suit, ready to shake the hand of league commissioner Adam Silver.

Whenever that is, be it this year or later, the situation is in many ways awkward, and even uncomfortable. The draft is known for being an attempt at having the best players be selected first, and if James stays in the draft, that would almost definitely break with that approach.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.