Bronny James (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

One of the most highly anticipated prospects in the country, Bronny James , committed to USC last year; however, he missed the first eight games of his rookie season after suffering a heart collapse during a workout in the summer.

James had a dismal year statistically and was limited in playing time for the majority of the 2023–24 season, but he still made the decision to join the 2024 NBA draft and leave open the possibility of going back to school through the transfer portal.

Bronny James is one of around 200 players who have registered as early-entry candidates for the 2024 NBA Draft, according to Marc J. Spears of ESPN. Bronny and the others can still be eligible to attend college for the 2024–2025 season by withdrawing by May 29.

James has been in the spotlight since he was a little kid, and even more so when he played at Sierra Canyon High School. The son of LeBron James averaged 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game at that time.

His career came to a halt after Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest while practicing with his USC teammates at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. He was away from basketball for five months.

When he rejoined the team in December, his numbers were affected as James played in 25 games and averaged only 4.8 points per game with 2.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds in just over 19 minutes. The USC Trojans did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

Lakers Open to Drafting Bronny James With LeBron’s Future In Doubt

Bronny James (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

Jamal Murray’s game-winning jumper on Monday night terminated the Lakers’ season and sent them into the offseason with some uncertainty as the Denver Nuggets advanced to the next round of the NBA playoffs.

LeBron James will have the opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and choose to sign a new contract with the Lakers or pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Before making a choice, LeBron is apparently going to wait and see how the Lakers intend to strengthen their roster in the lead-up to the offseason.

LeBron has frequently discussed his desire to play alongside his son, Bronny James, and according to The Athletic, the Lakers are “open to the prospect” of picking him.

It’s still being determined whether the Lakers will have a first-round pick in the NBA draft of 2024. The Anthony Davis deal gave the New Orleans Pelicans the option to draft Los Angeles’ first-round pick in 2024 or 2025.