Bronny James, son of Lakers star LeBron, is invited to NBA combine as the league announces the entire list of 78 invitees.
Bronny James, the son of NBA star LeBron James, was among the 78 athletes invited to the combine.
Despite the fact that there are only 60 picks in the NBA Draft, the combine typically attracts the vast majority of the players. This year marks the first time that if you decline a combine invite, you will be ineligible for the draft.
There are several exceptions, the most notable of which is competing for another professional team overseas in the middle of their season, as is the case with Zaccharie Risacher and Nikola Topic, both of whom are predicted to be top-10 picks. In ESPN’s most recent mock draft, Bronny was not selected in the first round.
The 19-year-old James appeared in 25 games for USC this season, averaging 19.4 minutes per game. He did not have the same impact with the Trojans as he did at Sierra Canyon High School. James averaged just 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Andy Enfield, Bronny’s freshman year coach at USC, has since taken over at SMU, and Eric Musselman is now in charge of the Trojans. In addition to testing the NBA Draft waters, James has entered his name into the transfer portal. LeBron James has long maintained that he wants to play with his son in the NBA. And with the Lakers icon turning 40 in December, there is a tiny window for this.
The elder James has shown few physical indications of slowing down, averaging 25.7 points this season, good for 13th in the NBA. James will enjoy season No. 22 in the NBA, and he has until June to decide on next year. He has the option of signing a $51.4 million deal, the second year of a $99 million contract he signed prior to the season. Alternatively, James may become a free agent and potentially play for a fourth NBA team. The combine will be held in Chicago from May 12 to 19, with the first round of the NBA Draft taking place on June 26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The second round will take place on June 27 in Manhattan.