During Day 2 of the combine Tuesday, Bronny took the court for the first 5-on-5 scrimmage. He started for Team St. Andrews and shared the court with college players that were leaders on their respective teams all season: Antonio Reeves (Kentucky), Mark Sears (Alabama), Dillon Jones (Weber State), Baylor Scheierman (Creighton) and Jesse Edwards (West Virginia). Bronny was making the extra pass, moving well off the ball and was solid on the defensive glass. He was physical and ran the floor well while not forcing anything. Team St. Andrews took home the win and Bronny finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in 20 minutes.
“I feel like I played well,” Bronny said after the game. “My job is just to play a role and play the right way and try to get my teammates involved. I was just super grateful for the opportunity to be out there.”
LeBron and his wife, Savannah, are expected to be at the scrimmage Wednesday, as parents and agents are allowed to come watch the combine for the first time this year.
“My dad has been talking to me after each day, just checking in,” Bronny said. “He’s just given me words of wisdom and encouragement.”
Bronny averaged only 4.8 points and 2.1 assists during his freshman season at USC. He sat out the first half of the season while recovering from cardiac arrest and heart surgery and looked like a shell of himself as he tried to get back into game shape and adjust to a new system and teammates. The Trojans finished with a disappointing 15-18 record with no one really playing well all season.
When Bronny declared for the draft, many voiced their opinions on social media, saying he should return to school, he’s not ready and he’s only being considered because of who his dad is. LeBron has said numerous times that he wants to end his career playing alongside his son, which drew deeper criticism of Bronny’s game and added pressure for the 19-year-old.
“I obviously see everything that’s been thrown my way, but I just have to shrug it off,” Bronny said. “They haven’t seen what I’ve been through or anything like that, so I just continue to believe in myself and keep putting in the work.”
It would be one thing if he showed up to the combine, completely bombed on testing and continually got beat on the court, but that’s not happening. Bronny is competing at a high level and showing he’s coachable. Every scout and executive in the building can see how his game will translate to the NBA, regardless of who his dad is.
“Everything that follows my dad, people just try to link me with that and all the greatness he’s achieved and I haven’t done anything yet,” Bronny said. “So there needs to be that divide between Bronny and LeBron. I just want to let people know that my name is Bronny James and not being identified as LeBron James’ son.”
There has never been another player in high school, college and now the NBA Draft who has been more scrutinized than Bronny. Through it all, he is showing that he’s a legitimate prospect outside of his famous father’s last name.
The NBA Draft is June 26-27 in New York and, as things stand right now, if Bronny elects to stay in the draft, he’s a projected late second-round pick. Meeting and working out with teams could see him rise a little. There’s a good chance that his name will be called and he’ll reach his goal of being an NBA player.
“I really don’t know how I’m going to react,” James said after being asked what his emotions would be like on draft night. “It’s going to be a lot for myself and my parents because I know they’re going to be 10 times more emotional than I am. I’ve put in the work to get back, and I feel like I’ve earned the opportunity and I’m excited for my future.”
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