Michael Jordan had huge hands. LeBron James was incredibly athletic and a basketball savant. Victor Wembanyama was 7’4″ tall. These pre-draft measures, while not defining a player’s viability, have ramifications in the draft selection process. Likewise, the measurements of this year’s outlook have also been taken. Bronny James faced lengthy controversy while comparing himself to a former teammate of LeBron James.
During the first day of the draft, the media followed Bronny James like prey. Each of his exercises was observed with the aim of anticipation. He performed superbly during training. The all-star shooting drill placed Bronny second among the more than 120 players in attendance.
The 19-year-old USC product maintained his best performance during the vertical, recording a leap of 40.5 inches. His fundamentals were solid and Bronny’s stamina was a talking point during drills. After completing his corporate work, Bronny was exposed to questions. He revealed he wanted to be like Jrue Holiday or Derrick White on an NBA team.
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But what do the measurements say? Who does Bronny James really look like? This is not his father LeBron James, but someone who shared the floor with him for a few seasons when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Bronny James measures like Dion Waiters
HoopsHype recently calculated measurements of all draft prospects and provided references with former NBA players. Alex Sarr, the 7’1″ French talent heralded as the number one pick, has similar traits to the Warriors’ Kevon Looney and the Pacers’ Jalen Smith. In this way, the Bronny James comparisons might surprise the NBA fraternity.
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His height measured 6’1″ without shoes. This was confusing since he was listed as 6’4″ at USC. Controversy aside, the 19-year-old compares himself to Dion Waiters, a former teammate of his father, and current Magic guard Gary Harris. But do they do justice to the way Bronny James plays?

USA Today via Reuters
November 23, 2023; La Jolla, California, United States; USC Trojans guard Bronny James (6) celebrates from the bench during the second half against the Seton Hall Pirates at LionTree Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Waiters was a consistent scorer his entire life. He showed signs of being a dashing scorer, however, he was never able to establish consistency in his game. In contrast, Harris’ game is closer to Bronny’s. Orlando’s trusty camera shoots the ball well and is a terror to face when defending on the ball.
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Bronny is looking to be one of those guys too. Being the son of an NBA great didn’t give him a superiority complex. It remains grounded and reacts to unchanged reality. Well informed of his current situation, Bronny James is not here to strike gold immediately. His willingness to settle into a lower role and gradually move up could have a positive impact on his draft stock.
Do you think his draft performance is enough for a team to trust Bronny with their future? Let us know your views in the comments below.
