Lakers News: Expert Scouts Bronny James' Performance At Nike Hoop Summit

What should we expect out of the next James generation?

Los Angeles Lakers superstar small forward LeBron James took time off between LA's victory of the Phoenix Suns on Friday and its win against the Utah Jazz on Sunday to travel to Portland Saturday so he could take in eldest son LeBron "Bronny" James Jr. during the Nike Hoop Summit, a matchup between the best young prospects both stateside and abroad. Across 21 minutes of action, Bronny scored 11 points and pulled down four boards in the game.

The Athletic's John Hollinger was on the scene, and offered a thorough scouting report on the 6'3" combo guard, a senior at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth. Bronny, who signed a lucrative Name, Image and Likeness deal with Nike upon turning 18 earlier this year, is expected to opt for at least a year of seasoning at the NCAA level, rather than going pro with a G League or international team. He has yet to make an official college announcement, however.

"Having seen him in practice all week in addition to Saturday’s game, I estimate that James has a credible case to be a one-and-done in 2024," Hollinger wrote. "He’s a good athlete with tremendous leaping ability, he has a nice-looking jump shot with his feet set and he knows how to play. At this time he is not much of a threat to make plays as a ballhandler and he’s a bit undersized for a shooting guard."

"As a prospect, he reminds me a lot of [Orlando Magic starting shooting guard] Gary Harris, and I think he’d be looking at a somewhat similar trajectory as a 3-and-D shooting guard," Hollinger continued. "James has still not made his college choice, but whispers about USC made their way around the Hoop Summit."

Even if the younger James is never an All-Star, any kind of NBA career beyond a first rookie-scale contract would be a success. The injury-prone Harris, still just 28, just wrapped up his ninth NBA season and seems destined to play for years to come. A decade-plus career would be nothing to sneeze at for the younger James.

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