Bronny James IS staying in NBA Draft and will not return to college

Bronny James will not return to college and is remaining in the 2024 NBA Draft, his agent Rich Paul has confirmed.

James – son of Lakers legend LeBron – is the No. 54 prospect in next month’s draft and there had been some discussion about whether he would return to college for another year.

Now, though, he has forgone his remaining college eligibility and confirmed his desire to be drafted, according to his agent – and wife of popstar Adele – Rich Paul.

Speaking to ESPN, Paul said: ‘Bronny’s [draft] range is wide. He’s a really good prospect who has a lot of room for growth. It only takes one team. 

‘I don’t care where that team is — it can be No. 1 or 58 — [but] I do care about the plan, the development. The team’s strategy, the opportunity and the financial commitment. That’s why I’m not doing a two-way deal. Every team understands that.’

James attended a pro day at the Lakers’ practice facility last week, but is not expected to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft, which takes place on June 26.

His one season at USC was derailed by a cardiac arrest he suffered during practice last July, and he remained out of action until mid-December.

From there, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game.

He has now been medically cleared to play in the NBA, and was a full participant in the draft combine earlier this month.

He was watched closely at that event by his father LeBron and mother Savannah, and his agent has revealed that ‘many teams have called’ about him ahead of the draft.

The Lakers have, of course, been one of the more talked-about options for Bronny given it would enable him to play alongside his father.

‘The Lakers need to look at Bronny like everyone else,’ Paul told ESPN. ‘If they value him enough and he’s there, that’s great. If it’s not the Lakers, that’s great. 

‘I won’t be mad if it’s not. It’s obvious that people hear the conversation around the dad and son playing together, but that’s not our focus. If it happens organically, great. I’m not building on that.

‘I’m not putting unrealistic expectations on Bronny. He’s far from a finished product. But he has a hell of start. He’s positioned well.

‘I don’t see him not getting drafted, but if it got to a point where the situations didn’t make sense and we needed to go undrafted, that’s fine.’