“Situational Evaluation” is a sequence of articles that seeks to look at the circumstances that almost all usually affect an NBA prospect’s success. Every participant will likely be scored on a scale from 1-10 in 4 totally different classes: NBA-specific talent(s), deadly flaw(s), collegiate/abroad/pre-NBA surroundings, and splendid NBA ecosystem.
LeBron Raymone “Bronny” James Jr. is a 19-year-old guard from Akron, Ohio, who averaged 4.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds, and a pair of.1 assists for the USC Trojans. He’s anticipated to be chosen anyplace between, properly, who is aware of? NBADraft.web at the moment has him projected at No. 56.
NBA-Particular Expertise
Let’s ignore the whole lot else for only a minute. I promise we’ll get to it, nevertheless it’s utterly unfair to guage Bronny James based mostly on exterior noise alone. Loads of people are doing that on hundreds of thousands of different platforms. If that’s the dialog you want, there are many alternatives so that you can have it. For the following few hundred phrases, a minimum of, we’re evaluating a basketball prospect – nothing extra.
As such, James brings a various set of expertise and a terrific basketball IQ to the desk.
His calling card will come totally on the defensive finish at this stage of his improvement. Regardless of standing slightly below 6-2, James is a hard-nosed, bodily defender, usually setting the tone for his matchup earlier than the ball handler can get into his transfer. He has a low middle of gravity and greater than sufficient bodily power to carry his personal on greater gamers on switches.
James has fast toes and terrific palms, with robust anticipation expertise and a way of the place to be and what to do in any defensive scheme. He can play alongside any type of backcourt accomplice – significantly a ball-dominant, score-first guard with defensive limitations.
Offensively, James has proven promise as a spot-up 3-point shooter and as an off-ball cutter. He handles the ball properly and is a keen/in a position passer, however he isn’t but anybody’s thought of a standard level guard. He comes into the league as extra of a connector/glue man, however with an encouraging basis of all-around expertise to suppose that there may someday be extra to his recreation.
On a scale from 1-10, James’ defensive versatility charges at an 8.
Deadly Flaws
Let’s simply state the plain – he’s not prepared but.
Underneath regular circumstances, a participant with James’ bodily measurables and statistical profile would have stayed in faculty for one more season – maybe two. James struggled mightily for a mediocre USC staff, posting taking pictures splits of 37/27/67 – numbers that merely don’t get the job executed, significantly for a guard. He scored 121 factors on 112 photographs. He posted double-digit scoring video games solely thrice. He made 16 3-pointers.
Any hope one would have for James’ NBA future lies completely in his output as a highschool participant in Los Angeles, the place he loved way more success. But when we’re judging him based mostly solely on his one season as a Trojan, he doesn’t at the moment venture as an NBA participant. That isn’t an insult, both. There are solely 450 of those jobs, and the best possible gamers from all over the world apply for them. What number of of those jobs are reserved for undersized guards who can’t shoot or run an offense?
Clearly, there have been extenuating circumstances in James’ case. A terrifying cardiac episode derailed a lot of his momentum heading into his freshman season. For a couple of weeks, it was unclear whether or not James can be medically cleared to renew his basketball profession. However basketball is a brutal enterprise. You aren’t graded on a curve, and there’s no column within the field rating for extenuating circumstances. There are not any maybes, possiblys, or ought to’ves. It’s efficiency – plain and easy. On a staff stage, the Trojans didn’t win. Individually, James didn’t carry out as much as an NBA customary.
It’s not inconceivable, however James has an extended highway forward of him earlier than he can declare an NBA roster spot and someday crack a rotation.
On a scale from 1 (not a priority) to 10 (critical hindrance), James’ offensive struggles charge at a 9.
Pre-NBA Setting
OK, that’s lengthy sufficient. Maybe you will have heard that James’ father is a notable NBA participant in his personal proper?
None of us can fathom the scrutiny Bronny has needed to endure enjoying this recreation. He has had scouts in his ear since elementary college. He has walked into each gymnasium because the focal point. Opposing followers – a lot of them adults in age solely – really feel weirdly empowered to say something/the whole lot to him.
Via all of it, Bronny has maintained a stage head and a maturity that’s frankly astonishing and fairly admirable. He labored his butt off to maximise his potential on a profitable Sierra Canyon squad in Los Angeles, incomes 4-star recruiting standing and a spot on the McDonald’s All-American staff.
He is an efficient participant who can by no means reside as much as expectations. He’s the one function participant who serves as A-block content material for the sports-yelling tv ecosystem. He’s 19 and he has already seen all of it.
The hurricane of chatter that may accompany Bronny is simply that – chatter. However it might be sufficient to knock most individuals off stability.
On a scale from 1-10, James’ pre-NBA profession is inconceivable to charge. It’s the double-edged sword of limitless alternative.
Ultimate NBA Ecosystem
Pretty or unfairly – largely unfairly – Bronny’s draft standing has been tied completely to his father. Will the Los Angeles Lakers draft him for the Ken Griffey Sr./Jr. moments? Will one other staff burn a draft choose on Bronny in hopes of getting in his dad’s good graces? In a draft with such restricted upside, is Bronny value taking 20 or 30 spots too excessive with the slim probability of that staff now having an angle to persuade his dad to depart the Lakers? Does a rival staff draft Bronny simply to bother the Lakers? Does Bronny have inflated commerce worth?
Do the James’ even need to play collectively?
If Bronny was simply one other draft prospect, he doubtless would have returned to varsity for one more season – even in such a down draft. However he isn’t just one other draft prospect. He’s Bronny James.
Would the Lakers take him at 17? It’s not going, however it’s potential. I can’t say for certain whether or not any participant out there at 17 brings extra to the desk than “maximizing LeBron’s happiness,” however drafting based mostly on LeBron’s whims has burned multiple staff up to now.
Some experiences have claimed that the Phoenix Suns could be at No. 22. Positive. No matter.
I feel Bronny Watch begins in spherical two, the place really something may occur. Whereas yow will discover a future MVP within the 40s, odds are most of those gamers won’t ever play in an NBA recreation. Look again on the final 10 drafts and inform me what number of of these draft-and-stash gamers qualify for a roster. Bronny is a worthwhile gamble on this draft, even with out the familial attachments.
If he’s to carve out an NBA area of interest, it will likely be alongside the traces of Davion Mitchell or Lindsey Hunter – a defensive wrecking ball who can shoot it simply properly sufficient to maintain defenses trustworthy.
On a scale from 1-10, James’ situational dependence is at a 9. He wants a spot the place he can develop at his personal tempo in his personal manner.
