So, in case you didn’t already know, LeBron James’ son Bronny is making waves in the basketball world. With a famous last name like James, it’s no surprise that he’s getting a lot of attention from NBA teams. But what’s really interesting is that his agent, Rich Paul, is purposely limiting his draft workouts.
Now, you may be wondering why on earth Rich Paul would want to restrict the opportunities for Bronny to showcase his skills to NBA teams. Well, according to Paul, it’s all “by design.” Paul believes that by being strategic about which workouts Bronny participates in, they can control the narrative and maximize his draft stock.
Sources from a half-dozen NBA teams have told ESPN they’ve had difficulty securing workouts with 2024 draft prospect Bronny James, but the agent for the former USC guard confirmed James has worked out individually for just two teams at this point — the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers — and said that is by design.
Agent Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports Group, pushed back to ESPN on Wednesday on any notion that James has received different treatment than other players throughout the pre-draft process.
Other NBA teams have told ESPN they are interested in seeing James in a different context and workout setting than the one they scouted at USC.
“This is nothing new,” Paul said. “The goal is to find a team that values your guy and try to push him to get there. It’s important to understand the context and realize that this has always been the strategy with many of my clients throughout the years, especially those in need of development like Bronny. My stuff is by design.”
Paul said he also took similar strategies with the likes of first-round selections MarJon Beauchamp (No. 24 pick in 2022) and Darius Garland (No. 5 pick in 2019), shielding his clients from workouts and withholding medical information from teams, something that is now prohibited by the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.
“Bronny is the same as my previous clients,” Paul said. “I got the word out early to teams that if you plan on bringing Bronny in, here’s what you need to know: If you won’t give him a real deal, there’s nothing to talk about. It’s hard to get real development on a two-way deal.
“I don’t care about him going to the Lakers, or Phoenix, or about what number he gets picked. It’s about fit.”
Paul added later: “If Bronny’s name was Charles Jacobsen and he was my client — I would do the same thing: identify teams that have real interest.”
“There are other teams that love Bronny. For example, Minnesota, Dallas, Toronto. If it’s not the Lakers, it will be someone else. Minnesota would love to get Bronny in, but I don’t know who their owner is going to be. [Mavs GM] Nico Harrison is like an uncle to Bronny. If the Lakers don’t take him at 55, Dallas would take him at 58 and give him a guaranteed deal. Masai [Ujiri, Raptors president,] loves him. They could take him without even seeing him at 31. Workouts aren’t everything for these teams.”
Only time will tell if Rich Paul’s gamble will pay off, but one thing’s for sure: all eyes are on Bronny James as he navigates his way through the NBA draft process. And with the guidance of a seasoned agent like Rich Paul, he just might have what it takes to make a splash in the league.
