Panthers gambler Johnny Hekker shares criticism of NBA prospect Bronny James

Bronny James, the eldest son of NBA great LeBron James, traveled to Chicago to join the league’s team. Teams typically send scouts and key decision makers to the combine to get a closer look at draft prospects.

James finished his freshman season at USC averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. While the 6-foot-4 James isn’t considered a can’t-miss prospect, he is relatively highly regarded for his athleticism and basketball IQ — not to mention that his pedigree speaks for itself.

Since declaring for the NBA Draft in April, there have been conversations about whether James is ready for the league. While certain parts of the 19-year-old’s game will likely develop over time, one Super Bowl champion decided to weigh in on the current state of James’ skillset.

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Johnny Hekker noticed a video of James participating in drills at the combine and decided to criticize James.

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“Bro’s catch and release will take 2-3 business days,” Hekker responded to a post on X, formerly Twitter, which showed some highlights of James’ combination.

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Hekker spent the first decade of his NFL career with the Rams organization before joining the Carolina Panthers in 2022.

Despite the criticism, James’ future Hall of Fame father likely continues to hope to one day play alongside his son at the NBA level. James has publicly expressed his desire to be part of a father-son duo several times.

“My senior year will be played with my son,” James told The Athletic during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend. “Wherever Bronny is, that’s where I’ll be. I would do anything to play with my son for a year. It’s not about the money at that moment.”

The Los Angeles Lakers appear to remain open to the idea of ​​drafting Bronny if the opportunity presents itself, but adding him to the roster does not appear to be at the top of the team’s priority list, ESPN reported earlier this week.

NBA teams were notified Monday that Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, has been medically cleared to play in the league, a person with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press.

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The decision to approve was probably expected, as Bronny James was able to play the final 25 games for USC as a freshman last season.

He suffered cardiac arrest during a practice session in July 2023 and required a procedure to correct a congenital heart defect, missing several months during his recovery.

The NBA convened a so-called fitness-to-play panel — three doctors who review medical records — to determine whether James should be acquitted. They determined that he is “medically fit and able to play basketball in the NBA,” clearing his way to join the combine.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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