[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Bronny James
Frame: 6’2″ 210 lbs
Position: Guard
School: USC
2024 Draft Age: 19
Stats via espn.com

Offense

James’s offensive skillset is very limited, but teams have been most impressed by his combination of athleticism and strength. At 210 pounds, he boasts a 40.5-inch vertical and 3.09-second three-quarter court sprint (via the 2024 NBA Draft Combine). Although his 6’2″ frame makes him less dangerous in transition than you would expect him to be with those numbers, there is potential here if he can learn how to consistently finish through contact and find ways to score around the defense.

While he has received some praise for his upside as a spot-up shooter in the media, he showed little promise during his first NCAA season with USC. He only shot 26.7 percent from the three-point line, with most of his makes coming off the catch. The biggest issue is his lack of confidence in shooting and scoring. He played overly passively most of the time he was on the floor last season, rarely looking to score, and when he did, there was typically some degree of hesitance.  

The promising part is that it looked very good and polished when James shot confidently. He had a few three-pointers this season where he pulled up in the defenders’ face and confidently knocked it down. There were also moments when James would put his head down and attack the rim. These things must become habitual for James if he wants a shot at an NBA rotation. 

While passive, he was still a quality playmaker for the Trojans. He displayed good instincts at finding the open man in both the half-court and transition. He always kept his head up and evaluated whether there was a better shot on the floor for someone else than for himself. While this mentality is generally good, he needs to raise the mental floor of what he considers a good shot to shoot more confidently.

James takes himself out of the offense too much with his passiveness and lack of confidence in putting the ball on the floor and getting a bucket. However, to gain confidence, you also need to get better. He needs to become a more consistent shooter from all over the floor, including the free throw line (67.7 percent), and look to develop his bag as a ball handler. Adding those attributes to his already genetically freakish athletic abilities will give him a better chance of becoming a rotational NBA player.

Defense

When you focus on his defense, James has a much more legitimate case for the NBA. He is ahead of his age and was relied upon at USC to stop the ballhandler. James plays with much energy, toughness, and intensity when defending opposing guards on-ball. He wants to win the one-on-one battles, and when he forces a turnover, you see him as being most expressive. 

He does an excellent job cutting off the lane to the basket and predicting when his opponent will change direction. He also has the strength of a forward, which makes it hard for guards to try to fight their way through him. This is his most NBA-ready quality, and if nothing else gets him on the court early in his career, this will.

There is a lot to like in him as an off-ball defender. His consistency isn’t as elite as on-ball, but he works his tail off to fight through screens and cut off passing lanes. Sometimes, he can get a little overaggressive, which can cause him to give up a weak foul or lose his man altogether, but this is an easy fix. 

James can potentially be a relatively versatile, “do-it-all” type of defender, but his height may be limiting. He has the strength to slow down forwards with limited offensive skillsets, such as shooters. However, a forward that can take him off the dribble and create for themselves may give him issues as they can shoot right over the top. In a quick help-side rotation, his sudden use of length and leaping ability can alter the attackers’ shot around the rim, regardless of size. He can also rebound well for his position, as he has a nose for the ball and can use his impressive vertical to grab it near its peak.

Looking Ahead

Overall, James may not join the NBA as a rotation player, but he has promise and when your father is one of the greatest ever, a little promise can go a long way. He overcame a serious heart issue before the season, so his numbers may not fully reflect his capabilities.

James’ lack of size, shot creation, and shot-making ability make it difficult to imagine him currently thriving at the highest level. He is only 19 years old, has great intangibles, and may have more time to develop than other scouts with a less famous father. If he makes the most of that patience with his development, he could eventually begin a successful NBA career.

James displays shades of Davion Mitchell of the Sacramento Kings as a short yet bouncy guard with a high upside as a perimeter defender. His playmaking instincts and size make it possible he will spend most of his career at point guard—even more reason for James to grow as a three-point shooter. If he does, there could be a place for him in the league as a backup guard, but it will take a lot more growth offensively for him to take on a more significant role.