1. Bronny James played one season of college basketball for the USC Trojans before being selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft.
37 Facts About Bronny James
1. 2.
Bronny James is the eldest child and teammate of professional basketball player LeBron James Sr.
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Bronny James' career, including his selection by the Lakers, has faced allegations of nepotism.
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Bronny James was born on October 6,2004, in Akron, Ohio, to reigning NBA Rookie of the Year LeBron Bronny James, age 19, and his girlfriend Savannah Brinson, age 18.
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Bronny James was raised by both of his parents, who married in 2013.
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Bronny James played for Old Trail School in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio, where he attended middle school, and led his team to an Independent School League tournament win.
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In July 2018, a youth game featuring Bronny James was canceled after a fan wearing a Michael Jordan jersey heckled his father and was denied entrance.
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Bronny James joined the school with his brother Bryce and incoming senior Zaire Wade, son of Dwyane Wade, a longtime teammate of James' father.
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Five days later, during a Hoophall Classic game against Paul VI Catholic High School, an orange peel was thrown by a young fan at Bronny James, causing a brief stoppage of play.
10.
On November 12,2020, Bronny James played his first preseason game as a sophomore for California Basketball Club, a travel team representing Sierra Canyon, against Air Nado, a team affiliated with Coronado High School, at the High School Showcase.
11.
Bronny James scored nine points, all in the first half.
12.
In February 2021, Bronny James tore his meniscus at practice and underwent surgery.
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Bronny James's team was upset by Harvard-Westlake School in the CIF Southern Section Open Division semifinals, where he scored four points.
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Bronny James was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game and was named to the United States team for the Nike Hoop Summit.
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Bronny James first appeared in recruiting rankings before his sophomore season, and 247Sports and ESPN rated him a four-star recruit and a top-30 player in the 2023 class.
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Early in his junior season coming off a season ending injury, Bronny James fell to 52nd and 49th in rankings by 247Sports and ESPN, respectively, and he dropped 31 spots to number 60 in rankings by Rivals in June 2022.
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On January 17,2023, the Los Angeles Times reported that Bronny James would decide between attending college at Ohio State, Oregon or USC.
18.
In March 2023, Bronny James was projected as a top-ten pick in the 2024 NBA draft and, according to ESPN NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony, was seen as the most improved prospect in the country.
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Bronny James appeared in USC's final 25 games, starting six and averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes.
20.
In early May 2024, Bronny James was medically cleared to be eligible for the NBA draft.
21.
On May 28,2024, it was reported that Bronny James had at least 10 workout invites from NBA teams but only visited a "couple" of those teams, which included the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.
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Bronny James later had workouts with only those two teams.
23.
On June 27,2024, Bronny James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
24.
Bronny James played for the Lakers in the NBA Summer League and played six games during the preseason.
25.
Bronny James excels in catch-and-shoot situations and can shoot off movement.
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Bronny James can defend point guards; his defensive anticipation and intensity have been praised.
27.
In 2023, ESPN's Givony said Bronny James was developing into one of the top perimeter defenders in his class.
28.
Jonathan Wasserman described Bronny James as possessing a high basketball IQ and being a willing passer.
29.
Bronny James's driving and finishing abilities have been labeled as weaknesses, although he has the strength to finish through contact.
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Bronny James's playing style has drawn comparisons to De'Anthony Melton, Lonzo Ball, Miles McBride, and Jrue Holiday.
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Bronny James has been described as a nepo baby, with critics suggesting that his father's influence played a significant role in his opportunities.
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Bronny James' godfather is NBA All-Star Chris Paul, who is a close friend of his father.
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Bronny James has established a large social media following since high school.
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Analysts have projected Bronny James as having one of the highest-earning potentials from his name, image and likeness among college athletes.
35.
In high school, Bronny James signed NIL deals with Nike and Beats by Dre.
36.
Bronny James has worn the number 0 jersey because it is the number worn by his favorite NBA player, Russell Westbrook.
37.
Bronny James has worn the number 23 jersey in honor of his father.