Sources from several NBA teams have told ESPN they have had a hard time scheduling workouts with Bronny James. Bronny James is a 2024 draft prospect. He used to play for USC. But his agent said Bronny has only worked out for two teams so far. Those teams are the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers. This is on purpose, said the agent.
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The agent, Rich Paul, is the CEO of Klutch Sports Group. He told ESPN on Wednesday that Bronny is not getting special treatment. He said this is normal for many of his clients. The NBA draft will be on June 26-27 in New York.
The Suns have the No. 22 pick. The Lakers have picks No. 17 and 55. Other NBA teams want to see Bronny in different workout settings. They have scouted him at USC but want more.
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“This is normal,” Paul said. “The goal is to find a team that values your guy. You try to push him to get there. It’s important to understand the context. This has always been the strategy with many of my clients over the years. Especially those like Bronny who need development. My plan is on purpose.”
Paul has a history of guiding clients to good teams. He did this with Talen Horton-Tucker (No. 46 pick in 2019), Brandon Boston Jr. (No. 51 pick in 2021), and Chris Livingston (No. 58 pick in 2023). They all got guaranteed deals even though they did few workouts and were picked late in the draft.
Paul also used this strategy with first-round picks MarJon Beauchamp (No. 24 pick in 2022) and Darius Garland (No. 5 pick in 2019). He kept them from workouts and didn’t share medical info with teams. This is now banned by the NBA’s rules.
Bronny James is the same as my other clients,” Paul said.
“Bronny is the same as my other clients,” Paul said. “I told teams early that if they plan on bringing Bronny in, here’s what they need to know. If they won’t give him a real deal, there’s no point in talking. It’s hard to develop on a two-way deal.
“I don’t care if he goes to the Lakers or Phoenix or what number he gets picked. It’s about the right fit.”
Paul added, “If Bronny’s name was Charles Jacobsen and he was my client, I would do the same thing. I would find teams that have real interest.”
LeBron James has said he would like to play with his son. But after his final game this season, he said he hasn’t thought much about playing with Bronny. LeBron James has played for 21 seasons and could become a free agent if he leaves his contract with the Lakers.
“The young man will decide what he wants to do and how he wants his career to go,” LeBron said.
At the NBA draft combine in May, Bronny said he was focused on getting to the NBA more than playing with his dad.
“LeBron is okay with not having to play with Bronny,” Paul told ESPN. “If he does, he does. But if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. There’s no deal that says if the Lakers draft Bronny at 55, LeBron will re-sign. If that was true, I would make them take him at 17. We don’t need leverage. The Lakers can draft Bronny and LeBron doesn’t re-sign. LeBron is also not going to Phoenix for a minimum deal. We can end that idea now.
“There are other teams that love Bronny. For example, Minnesota, Dallas, Toronto. If it’s not the Lakers, it will be someone else. Minnesota would love to get Bronny, but I don’t know who their owner will be. Nico Harrison, the Mavs GM, is like an uncle to Bronny. If the Lakers don’t take him at 55, Dallas would take him at 58 and give him a guaranteed deal. Masai Ujiri, Raptors president, loves him. They could take him without seeing him at 31. Workouts aren’t everything for these teams.”
With the draft a week away, Paul says Bronny is probably done with workouts unless something unexpected happens.
“Lakers and Phoenix, that’s it,” Paul said. “There could be last-minute things if someone calls me late. We’ll see.”
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert. He is the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA, and international teams.
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