In the 2022-2023 National Basketball Association (NBA) offseason, one of the key storylines was whether or not star LeBron James would retire from the league.
For the 2023-2024 NBA offseason, James will again be a key storyline as he potentially enters free agency and could team up with his son Bronny James on an NBA roster.
What Happened: For years, LeBron James has hinted at wanting to play with his son in the NBA someday, a storyline now front and center and could impact the NBA Draft, free agency and give sports bettors something to wager on.
Choosing to leave the University of Southern California (USC) after one season, 19-year-old Bronny James is one of the most talked about NBA Draft prospects in years. James likely won't be selected first overall, but his selection could play a key role in where his father ends up playing next season.
Bronny James stayed in the NBA Draft after this week's deadline, which makes things more official as analysts and writers look to predict which team will take a chance on him; he is ranked 54th overall by ESPN for the 2024 NBA Draft.
"Bronny's range is wide," Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, who represents father and son, told ESPN. "He's a really good prospect who has a lot of room for growth."
At the NBA draft combine this month, Bronny James ranked second in 3-point shooting drills among 71 participating prospects. James also had 13 points in a team scrimmage. The strong draft combine performance led to increased interest from NBA teams.
A cardiac arrest in July 2023 led to a setback for his freshman season, but Bronny James eventually made his debut for USC in December. During the 2023-2024 NCAA season, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists; he played in 25 games, starting six of them.
The 2024 NBA Draft is set for June 26 and June 27 with a total of 58 picks across two rounds. The first round will be televised by ABC and ESPN, units of Walt Disney Co DIS, with the second round televised by ESPN.
The NBA Draft comes ahead of a June 29 deadline for LeBron James to decide on a player option for $51.4 million to return to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2024-2025 NBA season.
Related Link: LeBron James Joins DraftKings: Sports Betting Company Adds King To Roster That Includes Michael Jordan
Betting Odds: A report from NBA Insider Shams Charania said 10 NBA teams have sent workout invitations to Bronny James, suggesting their interest in the NBA prospect. Charania said Bronny James will be visiting only the Lakers and Phoenix Suns.
"The Suns have the No. 22 overall pick in the draft, and he's under consideration there among a lot of players at 22," Charania said.
The Lakers, who LeBron James has played with for the last six seasons, are the frontrunners to draft Bronny James and to have LeBron on their roster for the next season.
Here are the current betting odds to draft Bronny James from DraftKings Inc DKNG:
Lakers: +180
Suns: +1,000
Philadelphia 76ers: +1,000
Oklahoma City Thunder: +1,000
Cleveland Cavaliers: +1,000
Utah Jazz: +1,200
San Antonio Spurs: +1,200
New York Knicks: +1,200
Here are the current betting odds from DraftKings for the team LeBron will play for next season:
Lakers: -425
Cavaliers: +750
Suns: +1,200
Golden State Warriors: +1,400
76ers: +2,220
Knicks: +2,500
Dallas Mavericks: +2,500
Miami Heat: +2,500
The Lakers have the 17th and 55th picks in the 2024 NBA draft, with the potential of losing the 17th pick to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of compensation for a prior trade. The Suns have only the 22nd pick in the draft after losing its second round pick due to league penalty.
While many expect LeBron James to stay with the Lakers, the Suns landing a potential workout with Bronny James could see some bettors look to the team. The Suns have a newish owner looking to make a splash and were the sixth-best team in the Western Conference this past season. The Suns made the NBA Playoffs the last four straight seasons and lost in the NBA Finals in the 2020-2021 season.
The NBA Draft and LeBron James' free agent status are likely to impact the NBA Championship betting odds for the next season. The Boston Celtics are the current favorites to win next season at +300, followed by the Denver Nuggets at +700 and Oklahoma City Thunder at +800. The Lakers and Suns are listed at +2,000 currently.
While sports bettors could look to wager on the NBA Draft and free agency surrounding the James family, investors will also want to keep an eye on the stock of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp MSGS. The company owns the New York Knicks, which are listed as one of the potential landing spots for father and son. While not a favorite to land the duo or either one, the Knicks playing spoiler and getting a James on the roster could see new investors flock to the stock.
Read Next: LeBron James And JJ Redick Unveil ‘Mind The Game’ Podcast For An In-Depth Look At Basketball
Photo: Bronny James photo by 1022 Project and LeBron James photo by DFree via Shutterstock
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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