Bronny James: ‘I wasn’t given that much of an opportunity’ at USC

Newly drafted Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James will enter his rookie season in the NBA as a prospect with intriguing upside and no shortage of attention. Being the son of one of the NBA's greatest players in history will unquestionably bring that attention, but Bronny's potential as a prospect is a unique storyline in itself.

The 19-year-old averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes per game during his lone season at USC, but that came after a five-month layoff following a heart procedure. During his introductory press conference with the Lakers, Bronny explained that the layoff affected his development. Beyond that, James said he doesn't believe he had the opportunity to  "showcase what I can really do" during his time with the Trojans, as ESPN's Dave McMenamin revealed.

"I feel like I could've been perfecting my game more," Bronny said. "I feel like I've been given the opportunity to showcase what I can really do because I wasn't given that much of an opportunity at SC. I'm excited for what is to come."

James went into cardiac arrest during a workout at USC in July 2023, and it was found he had a congenital heart defect that caused the incident. While he's been fully cleared to play, it's certainly easy to understand the long layoff impacting the preparation ahead of his freshman season.

While he may not have received the opportunity to showcase his skillset after returning to the Trojans and during the season, the Lakers are likely to emphasize player development, especially under new head coach JJ Redick. It'll be interesting to monitor Bronny's performance during early action, such as the NBA Summer League and preseason.