Bronny James is medically cleared for the NBA, but will he prove he's ready for the next level?
USC Trojans freshman guard Bronny James has reportedly passed the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel and is medically cleared to play in the pros.
After suffering a terrifying cardiac arrest, he missed the start of his freshman season. But he eventually returned to play and found his way into the rotation for USC.
While it was a disappointing season for the Trojans and his team missed the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the guard kept all his options open after the season. He entered the transfer portal and also declared for the 2024 NBA Draft.
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According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, meanwhile, will likely stay in the 2024 NBA Draft.
James, who is currently attending the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, can show that he belongs. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony reported James is expected to fully participate in five-on-five scrimmages while in Chicago.
While his freshman season was less than ideal and there were times when he was expected to return to school for (at least) another season, James can soon potentially show pro scouts and executives that he deserves to hear his name called in the 2024 NBA Draft.
He likely isn’t going to light the world on fire with his scoring during these scrimmages. But if he plays solid defense and distributes the ball well and hustles while hitting his spot-up 3-pointers, all of which he is capable of on the court, it can help him quite a bit.
Even though he will likely get selected to play alongside his father on the Lakers, the guard has a chance to show that he is achieving this on his own merit with a solid performance at the NBA Draft Combine.