Bronny James is nowhere to be found in latest NBA mock after USC debut

USC freshman guard Bronny James is one of the more hyped prospects in the upcoming 2024 NBA draft but is nowhere to be found in Bleacher Report's latest 60-pick mock draft. That is likely due to him missing the start of the college basketball season after going into cardiac arrest, but James was previously viewed as a top-10 pick so his being excluded from a high-profile mock draft could be cause for concern.

Bronny, of course, is the son of NBA great LeBron James so he has the pedigree to be an NBA player but scouts will likely pick apart his game since he will be closely watched. With him only starting his college basketball career and recovering from a scary setback, it could take him time to figure things out, and that may be to the detriment of his draft stock.

Where could Bronny James be drafted?

Although the 2024 draft is still seven months away, scouts already have a rough idea about who is a first-round pick. Of course, that can vary widely and players often improve their draft stock in the pre-draft process.Even if Bronny doesn't impress enough to be considered a first-round pick initially, he could make up for it come May and June during the NBA draft combine when teams do individual workouts.

Then there is also the LeBron component. LeBron has repeatedly stated that he plans to play with his son once he joins the NBA and whoever drafts Bronny could sign LeBron in free agency.That would provide added value for a team, particularly those with multiple first-round picks, looking to boost revenue through ticket sales in the short term.

Imagine the Utah Jazz selecting Bronny in the first round, partly to sign LeBron and having him play there for a season or two before retiring. It sounds outlandish, but LeBron's comments open up that possibility and it only takes one team to decide to pick Bronny to potentially reap the benefits that come with doing so.

As a result, he could very well be taken in the first round, either due to his talent, LeBron, or both, though whether he will be a lottery pick like his dad remains to be seen.