As the 2023 NBA Draft approaches, there's one notable name that won't be in the conversation.
Bronny James, LeBron's oldest son, is one of basketball's most hyped-up young prospects. It helps that the 18-year-old is the son of the NBA's all-time leading scorer, but it is also because he has put together an impressive youth career in his own right.
After a successful four-year spell at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles, James committed to play his college ball at USC. He'll be suiting up for the Trojans in the 2023-24 season, which begins with a matchup against Kansas State on November 6.
Most four-star recruits don't plan to go one-and-done in college. However, James is not your average four-star recruit. There is a good chance he will declare for the draft next spring as he aims to become part of the first father-son duo to ever play in the NBA simultaneously.
Here's a preview of when we could see Bronny enter the league:
When will Bronny James be eligible for the NBA Draft?
The earliest James will be eligible to play in the NBA is the 2024-25 season.
That's because league rules require a player to be at least 19 years old during the calendar year in which the draft is held, and at least one year removed from graduating high school. As a member of the high school class of 2023, the first NBA Draft he could declare will be in 2024.
Of course, it is certainly possible that Bronny won't go one-and-done. It appears likely he will be coming off the bench next season for USC, a team with top-25 aspirations. If the consensus from league scouts next spring is that he is still too raw as a prospect, he can simply take another year to develop and enter the draft in 2025 — or beyond.
MORE: Bronny James' NBA Draft stock reaches all-time high
Will Bronny James play with LeBron in the NBA?
For years, LeBron has stated that his dream is to share the floor with his son in an NBA game.
“My last year will be played with my son,” James told The Athletic in 2022. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”
As of now, Bronny is still on track to turn that dream into a reality. He steadily improved throughout his high school career, earning selections to the McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit as a senior.
Especially considering his name recognition, he will more than likely get his shot in the NBA one day.
Bronny James scouting report
The 6-3 James has been steadily rising up 2024 NBA Draft boards and even cracked the top 10 in ESPN'S Jonathan Givony's mock draft back in February. However, he doesn't project as the same kind of elite scoring threat as his father.
As The Sporting News' Kyle Irving writes, "the skill and IQ are already in place. The next step is fine-tuning those tools and growing his game as his body becomes more developed."
The strongest part of Bronny's game right now is his ability on defense. He reads the game extremely well, and he is excellent at filling passing lanes and making life difficult for the opposition. He has already established himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the Class of 2023.
He didn't play a major role on offense in his first three years at Sierra Canyon, but he showed significant improvement with his perimeter shooting and playmaking as a senior. He is never likely to be a team's top scoring threat, but he can certainly be a major contributor on offense in a system designed to play to his strengths.