Bronny James, the eldest son of LeBron James, finally hits center stage as the young baller makes his debut at the collegiate level. James Sr. was in attendance, as well as his whole family, who wanted to witness his son make his mark in the next level. USC, a team that’s having a poor start to the season, matched up against a surprising Long Beach State on Sunday.
LeBron James wrote a heartfelt paragraph dedicated to Bronny James after playing his first college basketball game at USC ❤️
(via @KingJames/ IG) pic.twitter.com/i3nZhbBI4t
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 11, 2023
Bronny, who recently signed with the USC (University of Southern California) Trojans, appeared in his first official basketball game since his heart attack scare earlier this year. But, with the spotlight directed towards Bronny, how well did he play in his first college game? Everyone was tuning in to Bronny’s debut, but here’s what we think how the 19-year-old hooper fared against Long Beach.
How did Bronny fare against college players? 5 key takeaways during Bronny James’s USC debut against Long Beach State
1. Bronny has solidified himself as an elite defender
Even since he was in high school, Bronny already took pride in being a menace on defense. Not only did he average more than 1.8 steals in Sierra Canyon, but his defensive presence was also felt on the rim with his good shot-blocking ability. In his college debut, he showed just that after making a highlight play showcasing his dad’s signature chase-down block.
BRONNY BLOCK. 🔥🔥🔥
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 10, 2023
Lately, he’s been getting comparisons to the likes of Jrue Holiday, Marcus Smart, and Alex Caruso, all of whom are excellent perimeter defenders and good point guards. While Bronny seems like he’s the type of combo guard who has the potential to become a better scorer than the players mentioned above, there’s no doubt his defense will definitely hold up in today’s NBA.
2. The young James will be a special addition to the already stacked USC Trojans squad
USC, one of the biggest Division 1 schools in the NCAA, has a stacked 2023 roster. Aside from Bronny, the Trojans also have the projected 2024 first-overall pick, Isaiah Collier. The team also features other 4-star recruits like Vince Iwuchukwu and Boogie Ellis. Oh, and did we also mention that DJ Rodman, the son of the great Dennis Rodman, has also transferred to USC after Bronny’s decision to sign with the team?
Bronny James made his college basketball debut for USC with LeBron James in attendance today 🤩
🔸 16 minutes
🔸 4 points (1-of-3 3PT, 1-of-2 FT)
🔸 3 rebounds
🔸 2 assists
🔸 2 steals
🔸 1 chasedown block pic.twitter.com/CytWQ3wbvh— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 11, 2023
Despite the team’s rough start to the season and a loss to Long Beach, it’s obvious this team will be good moving forward, especially with Bronny joining the rotation.
3. LeBron most definitely handed his insane athleticism gene to Bronny
There’s no question that the freshman guard really has that insane James family athleticism. Although he hasn’t reached the same height and size as LBJ, he’s already got the hops, strength, and basketball IQ.
Bronny James broke out a windmill dunk during warmups 😳
(via @AntonioCMorales)pic.twitter.com/mUZVuoEhW0
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 10, 2023
4. Bronny already has that “he is him” factor
During his high school stint with Sierra Canyon, Bronny was posting impressive numbers even though he was already in a great team. In his senior year, he was averaging 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals. Those numbers were impressive, but there were some cracks in his style of play.
BRONNY'S FIRST NCAA BUCKET
🔥(via @USC_Hoops)pic.twitter.com/CFp7TCsGRp
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 10, 2023
Of course, there were some noticeable shortcomings with Bronny as he was just a high school prospect. One of which is his ability, or lack thereof, to create separation and make his own shot. Yes, he is a decent shooter, but he was not known for being the go-to scorer in Sierra Canyon. But, in his college, he seems to be showing that he can be a good offensive weapon. He won’t be the best player in USC, but he’ll be a key piece to this team’s success.
5. Bronny James will fit right in
As a two-way combo guard, Bronny will most likely be able to blend right into his team. He’s got the leadership of his father and he has great defense, something that seems to be fading away in his generation of basketball players.
Overrated, Underrated, or just right: Where does Bronny James categorize so far?
This year, ESPN ranked Bronny as the 19th in national rankings, while 247 Sports put him in the 28th spot. He’s also considered a 4-star recruit and numerous mock drafts are taking him as a late first-rounder in 2024. In context, the 2024 draft class is heavily considered as a weak class knowing that there won’t be any Wembanyamas or Millers in there.
Some basketball fans, analysts, and pundits alike believe that he’s ranked higher than he should be and that he is overrated. Some also think that, just because he bears the “James” surname, doesn’t mean he’ll be a good player, let alone be drafted into the NBA. While those claims are somewhat understandable, it’s not fair to put Bronny under such heavy pressure.
Right now, with the type of player he is and with what he can offer to USC or even to an NBA team, we are honestly saying Bronny James is just rated perfectly. Not high, not low, just in the right spot. However, it’s clear that he’s overhyped.
Bronny does not have that All-Star aura (yet) and he probably won’t be anywhere close to his father’s greatness. But as an exceptional defender, who’s to say Bronny will not be a reliable role player in the league? In addition, LeBron James has been wanting to play with Bronny and Bryce in the NBA, so they’ll be getting great guidance from a father/teammate.
