The Los Angeles Lakers are the betting favorite to select Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft. The Lakers are -130 odds to draft Bronny, and the Phoenix Suns are the second favorite overall +700 odds according to DraftKings.
The NBA Draft will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York over two days. The first round is slated for Wednesday, June 26. The second round takes place on Thursday, June 27.
A Father’s Wish
Bronny, a 6-foot-2 guard, played one season at USC. Bronny appeared in 26 games with the Trojans and started in six of them during his freshman season. He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He shot 36.6 percent from the floor, 26.7 percent from 3-point range, and 67.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Instead of declaring for the NBA Draft, Bronny should’ve stayed at USC to improve his game. However, there are greater forces and big egos at play in this unique situation. LeBron has not been shy about his intentions to play in the NBA with his son, Bronny, before he heads off into the sunset and retires. LeBron’s future is tied to whatever team selects Bronny in the draft. If you want LeBron on your roster, then you’ll have to spend a draft pick on Bronny.
The current odds suggest that the Lakers will most likely pick Bronny to placate LeBron and keep him in L.A., so he can play with his son and eventually retire as a member of the Lakers.
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Follow the Money: Bronny in the Second Round?
The Lakers have the #17 pick in the first round and a second-round pick at #55 overall. The Lakers could make a bold move to select Bronny in the first round, but the second round seems most likely. Oddsmakers and bettors seem to think that’s a possibility which is why the Lakers are the favorite to draft Bronny at -130.
BetMGM offers an over/under prop bet on Bronny’s overall draft position. The current number is 45.5 o/u. The over is -150 odds, and the under is +110. There are 30 teams in the NBA, so pick #45 would be in the middle of the second round.
The Sporting News ranked Bronny at #43 overall in this incoming draft class, The Athletic ranked him at #52 overall, and ESPN ranked him at #54 out of their Top 100 prospects. CBS Sports ranked Bronny at #13 for shooting guards, and #55 overall.
In a mock draft conducted by both The Ringer and ESPN, the Lakers select Bronny in the second round with the #55 pick. Other mock drafts from Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report also suggest the Lakers will pick Bronny at #55.
Sunny Bronny: Phoenix at +700 Odds
Several teams are near the top of the Bronny betting board at DraftKings. It makes you wonder if any of those general managers are willing to roll the dice to find out if LeBron really intends to leave L.A. and follow his son? Or is it one huge bluff?
The Suns are +700 odds to select Bronny and they’re the second highest team on the board. The Suns would have to squander their only pick in the draft, which is #22, to make this a possibility.
The Suns went 49-33 in their first season under head coach Frank Vogel. They secured the #6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, but suffered a disappointing first-round exit when they were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even though the Suns have a dynamic duo with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, they were lacking a reliable third scorer. Even though LeBron turns 40 in December, he’d be a stellar third option behind Booker and Durant.
Vogel also coached LeBron a few years earlier with the Lakers. The two won the 2020 NBA Championship, before the Lakers fired Vogel in 2022.
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Bronny Hopefuls: Raptors, T-Wolves, Mavs at +1000
The Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dallas Mavericks are tied for third in the Bronny sweepstakes at +1000 odds according to DraftKings.
The Raptors have two opportunities to select Bronny with the #19 pick in the first round, or with the first pick of the second round at #31 overall. The Raptors are in rebuilding mode, but adding LeBron and Bronny would bolster ticket sales. LeBron on the Raptors gives Canadian fans a chance to root for the superstar on a nightly basis.
The Timberwolves have two potential chances to land Bronny with the #27 and #37 picks. They ran out of gas in the postseason when they were knocked out of the Western Conference Finals by the Mavs. The young Timberwolves could use a veteran with championship pedigree like LeBron in the locker room if they expect to make a title run next season.
The Mavs recently lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals. They made an impressive run this postseason, but their lack of depth was exposed and exploited by the Celtics. The Mavs desperately need a third scorer to alleviate the scoring burden from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. LeBron is the kind of veteran scorer they need. There’s some history between LeBron and Irving too. They won a title together with the Cleveland Cavs in 2016.
Drafting Bronny is a potential path to persuade LeBron to join the Mavs next season, but the Mavs only have a late second-round pick at #58 overall. Drafting Bronny seems unlikely with the Lakers picking ahead of the Mavs at #55. If the Mavs want to improve their chances at landing Bronny, then they will have to orchestrate a trade to move up in the draft.
