In a surprising twist during the 2024 NBA Draft, former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers revealed that Rich Paul, the influential agent of LeBron James, issued a bold ultimatum regarding Bronny James.
According to Myers, Paul warned NBA teams that if they draft Bronny and it’s not the Los Angeles Lakers, the young prospect will head to Australia to play instead. This revelation came during ESPN’s draft coverage, where Myers detailed the situation.
“Rich Paul is calling teams, telling them not to take Bronny James. If you take him, he’s going to Australia,” Myers stated.
“Rich Paul is calling teams, don’t take Bronny James … if you take him, he’s going to Australia.”
Bob Myers on Bronny James’ draft status pic.twitter.com/p6mWNMAjma
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 27, 2024
This strategy appeared to be a maneuver to ensure that Bronny ends up playing alongside his father in Los Angeles.
The draft saw Bronny James still available on the board during the second round, which left room for speculation and potential drama.
However, Rich Paul, known for his significant influence in the NBA through his agency Klutch Sports, seemed to be leveraging his power to orchestrate a scenario where Bronny definitely joins the Lakers. This move, if true, underscores the lengths to which Paul and the James family were willing to go to keep Bronny and LeBron together on the same team.
The implications of this tactic are profound. It raises questions about the fairness and integrity of the draft process, as well as the potential impact on Bronny’s career.
Bronny James was eventually selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th pick, seemingly validating Paul’s strategy. Whether this move will pay off in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, it appears that the James family has managed to keep their dream of playing together alive.
