The NBA Draft is split across two days for the first time ever, which puts all eyes on USC guard Bronny James in Thursday’s second round.
James has been a polarizing draft prospect from the very start of the process due to his subpar freshman season at USC and his father’s past comments about their desire to play on the same team. While LeBron James has walked back those comments, the Lakers are lingering as a potential second-round destination.
While James’ offensive game looked underdeveloped at USC, his defense is part of what might prompt teams to take a flier on day two. Day one of the draft saw a few projects come off the board, including AJ Johnson and Pacome Dadiet, so James could have a fit despite likely needing time to round into an NBA regular.
Will James walk across the stage if his name is called? Here’s what you need to know about the USC guard’s whereabouts for the NBA Draft.
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Is Bronny James at the NBA Draft?
James is not attending the NBA Draft. He was not invited to the green room, as invitations are typically reserved for projected first-round picks. There isn’t any indication of what the James family has planned for Thursday, but there was no expectation that they will be attending the draft at the Barclays Center.
The NBA invited 24 players to sit in the green room, which is simply the floor in front of the stage in Brooklyn. 23 accepted, with only Purdue’s Zach Edey turning it down and choosing to watch with his Boilermakers teammates.
While James is certainly an attraction for NBA fans because his father is an active NBA legend, inviting him to the draft just for him to sit through the entire first round likely wasn’t something the league wanted, particularly with the second round taking place on a different day this year.
A total of 22 of the 24 players invited to the green room were selected in the first round, with only Duke’s Kyle Filipowski and Kansas’ Johnny Furphy going home empty-handed. In the past, Filipowski and Furphy could have at least stuck it out until the second round. This year, they will have to decide whether to return for a second night to hear their names called.
Prospects can still choose to attend the draft without a green room invite and walk across the stage. That’s what Giannis Antetokounmpo famously did in 2013, and another Bucks selection, AJ Johnson, did the same Wednesday night. There was no indication that James was interested in sitting in the Barclays Center crowd to have that experience.
In all likelihood, James will be watching the draft with the rest of his family as he waits to hear his name called.
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Bronny James landing spots
In addition to the Lakers, SN’s Kyle Irving lists the Mavericks, Heat, Raptors and Timberwolves as potential destinations for James.
To no one’s surprise, though, he projects James to be selected by the Lakers at No. 55 overall in Irving’s second round mock draft. That would allow James the chance to play with his father, though LeBron James is likely planning to opt-out and hit free agency this summer.
James’ agent, Rich Paul, named Dallas, Toronto and Minnesota as teams with interest in his 19-year-old client, with Paul directly calling the Mavericks’ No. 58 pick a likely landing spot if the Lakers pass at No. 55. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison, a former Nike executive, already has a strong relationship with the James family