The anticipation surrounding LeBron James’ offspring, Bronny James, has been high, particularly given his father’s storied background in the NBA. Yet, despite the buzz, expectations had tempered by the time the 2024 NBA Draft rolled around, with forecasts not favoring a first-round pick for Bronny. This turned out to be accurate, as he was passed over in round one.
Anxiously awaiting, fans and LeBron James alike look forward to the subsequent round to see if Bronny will be picked. Alternatively, he may not be drafted at all.
The Los Angeles Lakers, possessing the 17th and 55th picks in the draft, have already made their first selection, opting for Dalton Knecht at No. 17. Insider reports from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto converge on the expectation that Bronny may join the Lakers, predicting him as their choice for the 55th pick in the second-round draft on Thursday.
Rich Paul, the agent representing Bronny, has reportedly expressed that Bronny’s goal is to land a guaranteed contract, which may be influencing teams’ reluctance to swiftly draft the young prospect.
Audacious Bet Placed on Bronny James as the Top Draft Pick
Although no concrete expectations placed Bronny at the apex of the draft picks, one particularly optimistic gambler staked $500 on his chances at being the number one pick. This bold wager stood to potentially return a remarkable $125,000.
This gamble emerged despite Bronny’s less-than-stellar freshman year at USC, marred by injuries and performances that did not meet the hype. As such, the wager appears to be quite the stretch.