Is Bronny James Actually Good At Basketball?

Is the high-school senior going to be the true heir to the throne?

What were you doing with your life at 17 years-old? I was entering my senior year of high-school, getting ready to apply to college and graduate after years of organized athletics that peaked at the junior-varsity level. At 17 years old, LeBron (Bronny) James Jr. has just graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, with his father (a.k.a. LeBron James) and his younger brother, Bryce. Regardless of whether Michael Jordan or LeBron is the NBA’s G.O.A.T., it is undeniable that James is one of the best to ever pick up a basketball, or to even play professional sports. Understandably, this puts a massive weight on the shoulder of his genetic successors, as it did to Michael Jordan’s son, who’s basketball career fizzled out in college and is now a disgraced retail operator. There is absolutely no expectation of Bronny to fill the massive shoes that’ll be left by his father, but the predispositions that are innate to his situation leave many with a warped perception of how he will develop as an actual athlete. Does he deserve to go pro? Is he actually earning his acclaim, or does his name overshadow his skillset? Is he good at basketball? These are rudimentary questions that often have gone unanswered throughout his complicated high-school career as a result of the severe calculated efforts that attribute to where and when he plays. So, let’s try to answer them.

Biographical Information

Bronny James is quite distinct from his dad pertaining to his physical build. At 6’3”, 190 pounds, Bronny is a combo-guard that can run as a traditional point guard, or as a smaller shooting guard. He is quick and shifty with unforeseen strength, as he is often seen bullying opponents during drives, but unless he grows a bit more, he may be left hanging around the perimeter for the time-being.

High-School Career

Most people are unaware of the depth of Bronny’s high-school squad at Sierra Canyon. Bronny had to share guard minutes with Amari Bailey, the 5th ranked player in the 2022 class. Sierra Canyon also had 38th ranked Kijani Wright at center, as well as 88th ranked Ramel Lloyd at forward. Predictably, minutes ran scarce for Bronny as a freshman, then his sophomore season was restricted by COVID-19, and then he had to occupy the same roster as the aforementioned elite prospects. To say Bronny’s high-school career has been unorthodox would be an understatement. Bronny’s junior year was offensively inconsistent, ranging from 16 point games to being held to 0 on mostly inefficient shooting, but his quick hands and natural athleticism proved to be incredibly beneficial for his ability to jump passing lanes and establish himself as a solid perimeter defender.

AAU Career

Bronny’s 2022 AAU campaign has been a revelation in understanding his game. As a senior, we can finally observe his play through the lens of him as a leader, and it is looking promising. Bronny averaged 10.5 PPG throughout 12 games on a 15-man roster, which is impressive considering how much on-court lineup diversity there was. Although he shot a measley 29.8% from three and 35.6% from the field, that is to be expected at summer-runs like these where players often come to prove their individual worth. One promising aspect of Bronny’s game is his fearlessness at such a young age, chucking up a team-high 57 threes throughout AAU. Obviously it would be more satisfying if he made more of his attempts, but the fact that he can create these kinds of shots with such an underdeveloped style of play is essential for potential NBA prospects. Bronny also crashed the boards, as he ranked third on his team for total rebounds throughout the competitions. This is intriguing to see at his stature, and only goes to contribute to his apparent aggressive approach to his game. Playmaking is generally minimal at this stage of any basketball player’s career, but he still managed to rank 2nd on his team for assists per game, showing that his impact on the game has extensive breadth.

Is Bronny NBA-ready?

Short answer: no. Long answer: probably. Bronny has been deprived of genuine opportunities to showcase his talents, and now that we are finally getting fuller pictures of him as a player, it is apparent that he could easily be molded into the professional caliber. As of right now, his game is most reminiscent of players like Kyle Lowry or Reggie Jackson, players who impact their offenses in intangible ways that may be overshadowed by their base inefficiencies. Additionally, both examples have their hands on pretty much every aspect of the box-score, and are known for their general tenacity on defense. Do I think Bronny could surpass these estimated ceilings? Of course, it is totally possible that he grows a couple more inches, puts on even more muscle and hones his shooting mechanics to become a genuine top prospect. As of right now though, he will surely get collegiate offers that exceed the objective output that he is currently producing because of his name. This is already evident with ESPN reporting offers being extended already from NCAA stalwarts such as Kentucky, USC and Oregon, among others, but with rumors he may play overseas, much is left to be seen. Before we all get ahead of ourselves though, he still has a senior year to complete, and I’m just as excited as anybody to see what James Jr. can do.