From our correspondent in the United States,
He grew up under the microscope of analysts, bearing the burden of the inflated expectations of his pedigree. At 18, LeBron James Jr knows that he will probably never reach the alien level of his father, who this year became the leading scorer in NBA history. At the McDonald’s All-American game, where the 24 best high school students compete, “Bronny” still showed, after a disappointing season in California, that he had not stolen his place, with 15 points scored behind the arc Tuesday evening, and an exemplary state of mind.
But while “King” James, at 38, has the goal of playing in the NBA with his son in the same jersey before his retirement, a race against the clock is on. The prince, who will be eligible for the 2024 draft and must immediately choose between the university or professional sector, will have to mature very quickly.
“An accomplished shooter with a great temperament”
LeBron James passed on his name to his son, but not his extraordinary physique. Bronny peaks at 1m90, far from the 2m06 of his father. He has already been overtaken by his brother, Bryce – announced at 1m95 at almost 16 years old – with whom he played at Sierra Canyon High School, in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Considered by recruiters as a “combo guard”, a leader capable of playing back, Bronny James has an explosiveness that allows him to hurt in penetration or slam spectacular dunks. He also finished 2nd in the competition on Monday evening, notably by jumping over his younger brother.
“He is a top athlete, an accomplished shooter with a good vision of the game and who defends very well”, analyzes Tarek Fattaljournalist at Los Angeles Daily News, which covers high school and college basketball, and has tracked Bronny’s performance for four years. “He gives his all. He has a great temper. I never saw him sulk once. “According to Fattal, it is these “intangibles”, these qualities difficult to measure, which are particularly valued by coaches at the university, who want players capable of integrating into a collective.
On the Houston floor, Bronny never hesitated to make the extra pass and made himself available to line up five out of eight three-point baskets attempted. While he did not really arrive at this All-Star with a starting status, he was well on the floor in the money time, a guarantee of the confidence of the coaches. He did not take the last shot, but it was he who shifted Jared McCain, better placed. The long-range attempt from the future Duke player ended on the hoop, sealing the West’s defeat 106-109.
A difficult season in California
When LeBron James signed with the Lakers, he chose to send his sons to Sierra Canyon, a star-studded private high school attended by sisters Kylie and Kendall Jenner and Willow Smith. And whose basketball program has grown in recent years, with three consecutive titles of champions of California in 2018, 2019 and 2020. For his debut, Bronny James played with Brandon Boston, Ziaire Williams and Christian Koloko, who are already in the NBA, and Amari Bailey, who is expected to join them this year.
An ideal launch pad, therefore, but the putting into orbit has flipped. During his two years as team boss, Bronny often played under the eyes of an omnipresent LeBron in the stands, but he did not win any title, not even regional, with stats far from exceptional: less of 14 points and 3 assists on average this year. When 20 minutes went to see him play for the last game of the regular season, at the end of February, he was not undeserved, with 19 points. But the Trailblazers collapsed 61-88 against Notre Dame before going on to three defeats in the regional playoffs, a poor performance that relegated Sierra Canyon to the 2nd division of the Californian tournament in Sacramento.
Not enough to discourage LeBron James, who assured on March 6 on Twitter that Bronny “is definitely better than some (NBA players) I’ve seen play today”. The next day, his son sank in the small final, again against Notre Dame, with only 10 points, while Caleb Foster, revengeful after his non-selection at the McDonald’s game, put on 28 and finished top scorer.
7 million dollars per year in sponsorship
How do you justify the All-Star selection of Bronny, who lost four times to Caleb Foster this year and was walked over by pocket guard Jackson Shelstad in an exhibition tournament in Oregon? Accusations of nepotism flared up, in the face of opaque selection criteria. With the unpleasant impression that if his last name is heavy to bear, it opens up not necessarily deserved opportunities, sporting but also financial, with a billionaire father and 13 million followers between Instagram and TikTok.
Bronny James hasn’t chosen a college for the start of the school year yet, but he’s already the wealthiest college athlete. Thanks to the relaxation of the rules of the university association (NCAA), which now allows athletes to monetize their image, the basketball player-influencer signed sponsorship contracts with Nike and Beats last fall, and owns his line boxer shorts at PSD Underwear. A jackpot estimated at 7 million dollars per year by the specialized site On3. That’s double Caleb Williams, American football star at USC, winner of the Heisman trophy, and ten times more than DJ Wagner and Isaiah Collier, designated MVPs on Tuesday evening.
LeBron James’ ‘selfish’ dream
Bronny, whom analysts from ESPN and 247Sports place around the 30th position in their top 100 prospects high school while On3 stands apart by placing him 9th, does he have the potential to win in the NBA? “He needs two or three years in college. He has the talent to contribute to a major NCAA program, several Division 1 coaches have repeated it, ”assures Tarek Fattal. Ohio State, two hours from Akron, where LeBron James grew up, seems to hold the rope, even if USC, in Los Angeles, would allow the father to keep an eye on his development. Unless he chooses the professional path directly, by waiting a year in the G League – the antechamber of the NBA – or by going to play in Australia like LaMelo Ball.
What is certain is that the objective of participating in the 2024 draft is ambitious. It’s not even known if Bronny shares the dream of becoming the first father-son duo to play in the NBA. “With his selfish desire, LeBron is doing his son a disservice” with this accelerated schedule, accuses Fattal. Which recalls that in four years, Bronny James has never been allowed to answer questions from the media after the game. Without going so far as to kill the father, perhaps the prince should start by cutting the cord with the king.