Feeling lucky?
Bronny James has officially joined the Los Angeles Lakers, paving the way for a potential season alongside his father, NBA superstar LeBron James, in the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season.
Selected as the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny’s arrival has generated significant buzz, albeit tempered expectations about his immediate impact in the league.
Despite being widely anticipated, Bronny’s draft position places him as a long shot for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
His development path is likely to include significant time with the South Bay Lakers in the G League, where he can hone his skills and adjust to the professional level.
Oddsmakers have nonetheless included Bronny in their Rookie of the Year betting options, albeit at lengthy +30000 odds on platforms like FanDuel.
Among all listed contenders, Bronny occupies the lowest position in terms of odds, reflecting the consensus that he faces a steep learning curve in his rookie season.
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The landscape for the Rookie of the Year award features several top contenders, with players like Alexandre Sarr (+500), Zaccharie Risacher (+750), and Stephon Castle (+750) leading the pack. Dalton Knecht, the Lakers’ other 2024 draft pick, stands as one of the more promising candidates with odds set at +1000 immediately following the draft.
- Alexandre Sarr: +500
- Zaccharie Risacher: +750
- Stephon Castle: +750
- Reed Sheppard: +900
- Dalton Knecht: +1000
- Zach Edey: +1000
- Matas Buzelis: +1200
- Ron Holland: +1200
- Rob Dillingham: +2000
- Donovan Clingan: +2000
- Tidjane Salaun: +2000
- Cody Williams: +2000
- Devin Carter: +3000
- Carlton Carrington: +3000
- Jared McCain: +5000
- Kel’el Ware: +5000
- Isaiah Collier: +7000
- Tristan Da Silva: +10000
- Ja’Kobe Walter: +10000
- Kyle Filipowski: +13000
- Tyler Kolek: +13000
- DaRon Holmes: +15000
- Pacome Dadiet: +15000
- Baylor Scheierman: +20000
- Bronny James: +30000
Bronny’s journey to the NBA includes a decorated high school career as an All-American and a highly recruited college prospect, despite facing setbacks such as a heart issue that delayed his freshman season.
With a full offseason ahead, there remains optimism that he could accelerate his development in the coming seasons.
However, betting on Bronny James to claim Rookie of the Year honors is considered highly speculative.
Based on implied probability, oddsmakers assign him a mere 0.33 percent chance to win the award, underscoring the substantial challenges and adjustments he faces as he transitions to professional basketball with the Lakers.
As Bronny begins his NBA career, the focus will be on his growth trajectory and contributions to the Lakers’ roster, alongside the unique narrative of potentially playing alongside his father.
While expectations are measured for his rookie season, the allure of his potential remains a captivating storyline in the NBA landscape.
