NBA draft 2024: What's next for Bronny James? - ESPN

Bronny James announced on Instagram on Friday that he will be testing the NBA draft waters while also entering the NCAA transfer portal.

The move did not come as a surprise to NBA teams, especially in the wake of USC head coach Andy Enfield leaving to coach at SMU; James will be one of hundreds of players who will make the same move this spring.

James' cardiac arrest episode in July, which required a procedure to treat a congenital heart defect and sidelined him for five months, not only derailed his freshman season at USC, but also created several hurdles for NBA teams to meaningfully evaluate him.

He will need to first be cleared by the NBA's fitness-to-play panel to participate in pre-draft workouts and the NBA Combine, a process that could take months based on what we've seen in with players like Jared Butler and Keyontae Johnson, both of whom had similarly serious heart issues. He'll be asked to undergo a series of tests at the NBA draft combine in Chicago, should he be invited, and may not be able to participate in drills and scrimmaging, depending on how long it takes the panel to make a judgment on his condition.

Jay Williams explains why Bronny James is just gauging his draft stock by declaring for the NBA draft. (edited)

After James' return to the court in December, he did not have a very productive freshman season, in part due to missing five months of practices and games due to his heart condition. He averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19 minutes per game. On merit alone, it is hard to justify his inclusion in either ESPN's latest 2024 mock draft or Top 100 prospect rankings, both due to his play and the uncertainty regarding his status with NBA doctors moving forward.

USC freshman