Bronny James, assembly with reporters on the NBA draft mix Tuesday, mentioned he had not thought of taking part in within the NBA together with his father.
“I’d be completely happy about attending to the league as a substitute of me fascinated with taking part in with my dad,” he mentioned. “However that is not my mindset in any respect. I am simply making an attempt to place within the work and see the place it takes me from there.”
LeBron James, earlier in his profession, mentioned it was his dream to play with Bronny someday within the NBA. However as that risk bought nearer, LeBron and other people near him started to distance themselves from these plans in favor of Bronny forging his personal path in a state of affairs that’s finest for him.
“My dream has all the time simply been to place my identify out, make a reputation for myself, and naturally, you understand, get to the NBA, which is everybody’s finish aim that’s right here,” Bronny James mentioned Tuesday. “And, you understand, I by no means thought of simply taking part in with my dad, however after all he is introduced it up a pair occasions.”
James measured simply 6 foot 1 ½ inches in socks Monday in Chicago, however his 40.5-inch vertical set the stage for a optimistic testing day that included a pair of sturdy taking pictures performances.
He performed in 25 video games for USC final season, averaging 4.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds and a pair of.1 assists, numbers which have prompted some to query his inclusion within the draft mix regardless of groups deciding on him for the occasion.
“There’s nothing I can say to be trustworthy. … , I clearly see all the things that has been thrown my approach,” he mentioned. “However, you understand, I simply gotta shrug it off. And all of the work that I’ve put in over this, I do not know, a few years … I simply really feel like I must consider in myself and all the things.”
He mentioned he hasn’t made a last choice whether or not to stay within the draft or return to varsity.
Chatting with reporters, Bronny mentioned he has checked out gamers akin to Boston guards Derrick White and Jrue Vacation in addition to Sacramento guard Davion Mitchell — three defense-minded gamers — as ones he’d wish to emulate ought to he get to the NBA.
“Simply guys that excel of their function and, you understand, get good cash and get good taking part in time from it,” he mentioned, “as a result of they’re locked into that function and know what they’re alleged to do.”
And that might be wherever, Bronny mentioned, whether or not it’s on a roster together with his dad or not.
“I simply need to, you understand, have individuals know my identify is Bronny James and never being recognized as simply LeBron James’ son,” he mentioned. “I really feel like that might be an important angle.”
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.
