Upcoming Match-ups

Bronny James Only Given +175 Odds to Reach the NBA; -240 to Play in NCAA

Ryan Sura

by Ryan Sura in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 6, 2020 · 10:16 AM PDT

LeBron & LeBron James Jr.
Will Bronny James have a chance to play with his Dad in the NBA? Photo from @LasVegasSun (Twitter)
  • Bronny James is currently a freshman at Sierra Canyon High School
  • James Jr. is averaging 7.6 points per game with Sierra Canyon
  • He won’t be graduating until 2023, which will be when the NBA Draft age limit has changed

Bronny James is only 15 years of age, but being the son of LeBron James comes with expectations. He is currently a freshman at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California, and there are already way-too-early predictions of where he will take his talents after high school.

Bronny will ultimately have three options; go directly to the NBA (like his father did), play in the NCAA, or take the new found route of playing in the EuroLeague or in Australia.

Odds on Bronny James’ Basketball Future

Outcome Odds
Play in the NCAA -240
Play in the NBA +175
Play professional basketball outside of the NBA +2500

All odds taken December 18th

Bronny has shown flashes of excellence in his short career with Sierra Canyon thus far. In Bronny’s last game against St. Vincent-St.Mary, his father’s alma mater, he scored 15 points including the game-winning layup on a national stage.

YouTube video

With the NCAA considering change that would permit college athletes to benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness, the college route seems like the option for Bronny James at this point.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill for his state on LeBron’s HBO show, “The Shop”, to make it official in the state of California by 2023, which could mean James Jr. chooses to  go to college in his backyard.

According to Bronny’s 247Sports recruiting profile, he is currently projected to end up at Duke with Coach K. Other schools interested are Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, and UCLA.

I think the two most plausible landing spots for Bronny are Duke or UCLA. LeBron has a great relationship with Coach K and tweeted last year that he hopes he’s still coaching the Blue Devils when Bronny is eligible.

Since LeBron will most likely end his career with the Lakers and has been an advocate for the changes potentially happening in the NCAA, I feel like UCLA would be an appealing place for Bronny to play his college hoops.

I think it’s hard to go in another direction for this bet. Fewer players have been going straight to the NBA than in years past, and going overseas is a route still being tested by top prospects this season in LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton.

Best Bet: Play in the NCAA -240

Will Bronny Be a Lottery Pick in the NBA Draft?

Outcome Odds
Yes +155
No -220

I think this bet really depends on what Bronny decides to do after high school. I believe if he goes directly to the NBA from high school, he will not be a lottery pick. In the last five NBA Drafts, five total players have been drafted out of high school, and only one of them was a lottery pick (Thon Maker was selected #10 in the 2016 NBA Draft).

I believe if Bronny goes to Duke or any Power 5 school, he will be able to develop his skill set enough to become a lottery pick. Even though LeBron has expressed time and time again that he wants to play in the NBA with his son, it will be hard to accomplish as he will be turning 39 by the time Bronny graduates high school and is eligible for the NBA Draft, and turning 40 if Bronny decides to go the NCAA one-and-done route.

It’s way too early to call it as Bronny has played just five games in his high school career, but taking the college route seems like the best option for Bronny to have a successful basketball career.

Best Bet: Yes +155

Author Image