The NBL welcomed the Ball show, and now could have a realistic shot at the Bronny show.
According to a report from The Athletic, LeBron James’ eldest son, Bronny, will choose between college, the G League Ignite, and Australia’s NBL for the 2023 season after high school.
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While LeBron plots the final few years of his career, eligible for an extension in Los Angeles, the one thing that’s become clear is that the future Hall of Famer wants — more than anything — to play with his son in the NBA.
Bronny, 17, will become draft eligible in 2024, leaving the door open to be drafted by whichever team LeBron is playing on, or a brave franchise willing to go against the King’s wishes.
In discussing LeBron’s future, The Athletic’s Joe Vardon referenced Bronny’s options, including the NBL in a sneaky nugget that will have Australian basketball fans excited.
“Bronny, in the fall of 2023, will either be in college, with G League Ignite or in Australia … or wherever Rich Paul places him,” Vardon wrote.
Bronny is a 6’3 point guard, ranked 39th on ESPN’s top 100 recruitment rankings.
“There’s only one city that’s big enough for LeBron and Bronny, and that’s Sydney,” Sydney Kings owner Paul Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald in March.
“We’d fill 18,000 seats every week.”
With LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey, among others, proving Australia can provide the perfect platform for the NBA, the NBL will likely be mapping out a plan to convince Bronny and LeBron that it’s the right move in his development.
James, who is entering the final year of his contract with the Lakers, met with team vice president and general manager Rob Pelinka to discuss his future with Los Angeles, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The two sides had what was ended as a productive discussion, James’ agent and CEO of Klutch Sports Rich Paul told ESPN. A new deal has yet to be reached, however.
— with the New York Post.
Originally published as NBL a shock option for Bronny James in LeBron master plan
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