Veteran NBA Scout On Bronny James: “Poor Man’s Davion Mitchell. He’s Not An NBA Prospect.”

Veteran NBA scouts have started to break down Bronny James' future as an NBA players, with some having pessimistic views.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

Bronny James is set to be part of the selection pool in the 2024 NBA Draft. James isn’t coming into the league as a highly-touted prospect, but he’s one of the biggest talking points because of who his father is. Marc Spears shared what veteran scouts think about Bronny after the few first days of the pre-draft process.

“I still don’t think he’s ready but he did some good things. He’s on the smaller side, so he’s gonna have to be elite on defense. You can see he has good vision, makes the right passes, and takes good shots. He’s gonna need some more time. If the Lakers don’t draft him, I don’t see anyone drafting him. Teams will want him on a two-way and I don’t think Klutch would want that.”

Spears read out another scouting report which was far more negative, questioning if Bronny’s skill made up for his lack of size, observing that even with his defensive tools, he was being hunted as a switch matchup by bigger players who successfully scored. The scout had a pretty worrying comp for Bronny. 

“His comp: A poor man’s Davion Mitchell. He’s not an NBA prospect in my opinion.”

The comp with Davion Mitchell has been made to discredit Bronny’s talent, but Bronny himself named Davion as one of the three players he wants to emulate in the NBA as a defense-first guard.

Marc’s overall insights can be boiled down to be a quite poor assessment of Bronny, who anticipates being selected as a draft pick instead of having to sign as an undrafted free agent. If that ends up being the case, it’s fair to assume Bronny will be wearing the purple and gold of the Lakers by the time training camp comes around.

Bronny James Scouting

Bronny has had a decent showing at the NBA Draft Combine so far, slowly appearing on Draft boards after not featuring for most of the season. His physical attributes have impressed scouts, as Bronny has a 6’8″ wingspan and a 40.5-inch vertical. However, his 6’1″ stature without shoes is holding him back. In terms of skill development, many believe Bronny needs another season in college.

“No, he’s not good enough. Maybe if he went back to college for another year or two. But now? Not an NBA player. Not even close.”

Bronny has committed to being in the Draft and will likely find a home in the NBA. Whether he can sustain a career in the NBA on the strengths of his own skill set is something we’ll have to wait and see. 

He has played in two Combine scrimmage games, putting four points and four rebounds in the first where he displayed his skill-set as a supporting piece. He had a much better showing in the second game, going 4-10 and leading his team in scoring with 10 points while showing flashes of solid on-ball defense. 

His entry into the NBA might be guaranteed, whether it’s the Lakers or even someplace like Utah, but his staying in the league is predicated on finding a long-term role.


Draft Express Selects Bronny James At No. 54 In Latest NBA Mock Draft

ESPN’s Draft expert Jonathan Givony, also known as Draft Express, broke down how Bronny has improved his draft stock after his first few appearances in the NBA Draft Combine.

“This was a positive week in Chicago for Bronny James. He’s moved into the second round of our latest projections. He’s going to be 54 in our next update.”

Givony broke down how scouts at the Combine feel like Bronny is a legitimate NBA prospect based on his athletic talent and fundamentals. His attitude is what’s winning most scouts over, with Bronny reportedly very comfortable with the prospect of peaking as a role-player in the NBA.

“Talking to NBA people out here, they feel he’s legitimized himself as an NBA prospect. He’s not some sideshow LeBron’s son. I think the way he shot the ball is real, the athletic testing. His first day in 5×5 was pretty bad but yesterday, he played a great role and helped his team to a win while playing good defense and making shots. He’s showing his feel for the game and versatility, people love his attitude, enthusiasm, and the way he understands the player that he is. This was a very good week for Bronny James in Chicago.”

This ranking would project Bronny to be drafted by the Boston Celtics, one pick ahead of the Lakers at No. 55. Even the No. 58 pick Dallas Mavericks’ are reportedly keeping an eye on Bronny, so it seems the last few teams with picks in the Draft will do their due diligence with the prospect.

All of this attention on Bronny is obviously because of his father’s name. We have never seen a draft pick expected to go in the late 50s be broken down to such a degree. 

A pick to select Bronny could go sideways for whoever takes the jump, or it could be the sort of move that fanbases smile upon years later if he lives up to be a high-caliber role-player who impacts winning.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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