Don't Be An Idiot And Bet 'Nepo Baby' Bronny James To Go First In 2024 NBA Draft
In the least surprising news ever, LeBron James' son — Bronny James — is the most bet player to go first in the 2024 NBA Draft Wednesday, per several sports betting insiders. Half of those bettors are LeBron stans, who think King James is god's gift to basketball. The other half are conspiracy theorists, who assume LeBron will pressure teams into drafting his son.
Regardless, 100% of those bettors will lose money on this dumba-- wager.
Firstly, I don't get satisfaction from tearing down Bronny the basketball player. While I don't feel bad for Bronny, it's not his fault for being LeBron's son. Nepotism doesn't just exist in the NBA and Trust Fund Babies don't give their inherited wealth to charity. So, would anyone act differently? I think not. If I were Bronny, I'd reap the benefits of being LeBron's kid.
Plus, entering the 2024 NBA Draft after just one unimpressive season in college is his best shot at going pro. Bronny averaged 4.8 points on 36.6% shooting with 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in six starts in 25 games played last season at USC. If he went back to college for a sophomore season and put similar stats up, it would be harder for Bronny to get drafted.
I.e. he's striking while the iron is hot.
Bronny James, son of LeBron, is the most bet player to go first in the 2024 NBA Draft Wednesday. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
Furthermore, at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine, Bronny measured 6-foot-1.5 tall. You must be a world-class basketball player to make the NBA at that size. Bronny isn't a "true point guard" and his jump shot is a work in progress at best. He shot 26.7% from behind the arc at USC last season and the 3-pointer is the most important thing in basketball nowadays.
Bettors think the Los Angeles Lakers will draft Bronny to play with his father, LeBron
According to John Ewing, the odds at BetMGM for the Lakers taking Bronny in the 2024 NBA Draft went from +160 last week to -120 Monday. That's conspiracy theorists using LA hiring LeBron's podcast co-host J.J. Redick as its next head coach as proof that King James lords over the Lakers. Which he does. Obviously.
And, this could be where I err in this analysis, but there isn't "basketball logic" for Los Angeles to draft Bronny. Doing so would be such a bad look for everyone involved: LeBron, Bronny, Jeanie Buss, the Lakers, etc. With that in mind, the true odds of LA drafting Bronny should be at least +300.
The only argument is "LeBron has the Lakers by the balls and he wants to play with his son." Perhaps I'm giving the Buss family and Lakers organization too much credit. However, I don't envision them bending that far backward for LeBron. Or I'm not betting on it and neither should you.
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