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Brian Windhorst Gets Brutally Honest About Bronny’s NBA Odds

Brian Windhorst Gets Brutally Honest About Bronny’s NBA Odds

Few NBA reporters have been as plugged-in to LeBron James-related stories throughout the years as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Dating back to his time with the Akron Beacon Journal in 2003, Windhorst has covered LeBron in a way few others have. That was a huge part of the reason why, after the infamous ‘Decision’ occurred in 2010, Windhorst ended up switching teams (to ESPN) just like the guy he was reporting on.

Because of all that history, Windhorst is uniquely qualified to comment on all things LeBron-related.

And he did precisely that this week, when he spoke openly and honestly regarding future prospects of LeBron’s eldest son, Bronny.

Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show, Windhorst gave his unfiltered thoughts on what lays ahead for Bronny.

“He’s very good,” Windhorst said. “I don’t know if he’s going to go play in college. If he were to go play in college, he would probably get a high major offer. Whether he would be a star on that team, I don’t know.

“Having seen him play, he is in tremendous physical condition. He is in better condition than his dad was at the same age, because his dad never lifted a weight in his life until he was 16. This kid was having personal training, I don’t know when he was 10? So he’s done incredible work on his physique. He’s very, very conditioned.

“But he is not the athlete LeBron was. LeBron was 6-foot-7, 6-foot-8, 240 pounds when he was 17. He came into the NBA, he was one of the few 18 year olds ever who physically wasn’t intimidated. The only player that intimidated LeBron as a rookie was Ron Artest,” Windhorst continued.

“Bronny is very skilled. I think he’s listed as a four-star prospect. So think about that. A four-star prospect that’s what Kentucky, North Carolina, UCLA go after. How many four-star prospects make the NBA? I don’t know what the percentage is, but it’s not super duper high.”

Bronny is widely regarded as a top-10 combo guard in the nation right now, but obviously it’s impossible to project from here how he’d fare against more elite collegiate competition. Scouts have offered some intriguing takes on his true talent level.

If Bronny does opt to go the college basketball route, four programs have expressed interest in him.

All that being said, Windhorst believes that if LeBron wants Bronny in the NBA – Bronny will end up there.

“Obviously if he wants to be in the NBA, he’ll get a chance in the NBA,” he said. “His last name will carry him as to that. But I think assuming that he’s going to be ready at age 19, that’s a big ask. Maybe he will be. I mean, that’s two years from now. Maybe he will be.

“But when I saw him play, he was a freshman and there were two guys on his team that year that are now in the NBA, Ziaire Williams with the Grizzlies and Brandon Boston with the Clippers. Those guys, when you saw them, you were like, ‘I will see that gentleman in the NBA in two years.’ I don’t get that same vibe, and the people I talk to don’t get that same vibe about Bronny.”

LeBron has made it clear that he wants to play his final year in the NBA alongside Bronny. He even has a team in mind for the two of them.

But certain circumstances are obviously outside his control.

Will LeBron and Bronny ever truly get the opportunity to be teammates in the pro ranks?

Time will tell.

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Carlos Garcia

A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
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