For teams eyeing Bronny James in this week’s 2024 NBA Draft, agent Rich Paul says the son of LeBron James is not interested in signing a two-way deal, which allows second-round selections to spend time in the G-League and NBA. Paul told ESPN this week the rumor of his client’s refusal to take the two-way route is “absolutely true” and there’s no insistence from either party that whoever takes the former USC signee will also get LeBron James in a package deal.
“This is nothing new,” Paul said during an interview with ESPN. “The goal is to find a team that values your guy and try to push him to get there. It’s important to understand the context and realize that this has always been the strategy with many of my clients throughout the years, especially those in need of development like Bronny. My stuff is by design.”
Bronny James was not included in the first round of 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein’s final mock draft this week. James was cleared medically in May after suffering cardiac arrest last summer and decided to remain in the draft after entering the transfer portal following his freshman season with the Trojans.
James, a former four-star recruit, played in 24 games as a true freshman, averaging 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 19.3 minutes per contest. He shot 37.4% from the floor and 27.3% from 3-point range.
“My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and get to the NBA, which is everyone’s end goal that’s here,” Bronny James said before participating in the NBA Draft Combine and working out for the Lakers and Suns, via Michael Scotto. “I never thought about just playing with my dad, but of course he’s brought it up a couple of times. But yeah, I don’t think about it much.”
LeBron James had made it clear to Los Angeles this summer his future plans are not 100% bearing on what the franchise’s intentions are with his son, who is projected as a late-round pick later this week.
“He didn’t want to (force) it at the expense of what was good for Bronny,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said earlier this month.
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The Lakers recently hired former Duke star JJ Redick as their next coach. Redick also interviewed with the Charlotte Hornets this cycle and has no prior coaching experience. Redick played 15 NBA seasons after an All-American career with the Blue Devils in the ACC and has since worked as a basketball analyst for ESPN.
