The budding basketball talent plans to enter the NBA Draft while retaining his eligibility for college.

Since his childhood, Bronny James has been under the spotlight, and his transition to college hasn’t dimmed that glare. In 2023, he committed to the University of Southern California after graduating from Sierra Canyon High School. His impressive stats managed to turn doubters into believers.

The son of LeBron James boasted an average of 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, further elevating his NIL (name, image, and likeness) value.

At that juncture, his valuation was reported to be around $5.9 million, propelled by lucrative deals with globally recognized brands like Nike and Beats by Dre. Everything seemed poised to escalate even further, but a health issue thwarted that progression.

On July 24, 2023, Bronny experienced a cardiac arrest during practice with his USC teammates at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. This forced him to take a five-month hiatus from basketball, initially having little impact on his NIL value. However, the situation quickly shifted.

Upon his return to the team in December, the numbers told a different story, largely influenced by his performance on the court. Bronny James participated in 25 games, averaging just 4.8 points per game alongside 2.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds in a little over 19 minutes of play. Unfortunately, the team failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, resulting in a decline in his NIL value from $4.7 million to $4.5 million.

LeBron James has intervened to stand by his son. Following Bronny’s choice to enter the transfer portal and simultaneously declare for the NBA Draft, he faced criticism for potentially using the NCAA as a backup plan if things didn’t pan out. LeBron James has been outspoken in his support of his son and his choices.

LeBron wrote on social media, “Can y’all please just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball… The work and results will ultimately do the talking no matter what he decides to do. If y’all don’t know, he doesn’t care what a mock draft says, he just WORKS! Earned Not Given!”

By the conclusion of the previous season, Bronny James experienced a decrease of $0.8 million. However, if his father’s desire materializes and the Los Angeles Lakers select him, affording them the opportunity to play together for at least one season, the younger James could swiftly bolster his NIL earnings.