2024 NBA Draft: Shocking Bronny James Data
LeBron James’ son has gotten an insane amount of love from the betting community
Dan Karpuc - May 20, 2024, 3:44pm EDT
In an unexpected twist, LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, has become a significant talking point within the betting community ahead of the NBA Draft.
Despite a modest performance in his single season at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points on 36.6% shooting, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, the betting activity surrounding him has been nothing short of shocking.
Betting Odds for First Overall Pick
According to BetMGM, Bronny James is a notable presence in the betting market for the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, despite his performance metrics suggesting he may not be the top candidate. Here’s a breakdown of the betting data:
Bronny James (+20000)
Ticket Percentage: 22.5%, Handle Percentage: 2.4%
Alexandre Sarr (-300)
Ticket Percentage: 22.5%, Handle Percentage: 81.4%
Donovan Clingan (+1200)
Ticket Percentage: 15.0%, Handle Percentage: 10.7%
The liability for the first overall pick is heavily skewed towards Bronny James, Alexandre Sarr, and Donovan Clingan. Alexandre Sarr, with the best odds at -300, dominates the handle percentage, indicating substantial betting on his being the top pick.
Team to Draft Bronny James
The betting community is also keenly speculating on which team will draft Bronny. Despite his statistical profile, including a 26.7% shooting rate from three-point range and a 6’4”, 210-pound frame that places him in a challenging spot positionally, bettors are placing significant wagers on several teams:
Los Angeles Lakers (+180)
Ticket Percentage: 22.1%, Handle Percentage: 33.0%
Cleveland Cavaliers (+1000)
Ticket Percentage: 18.3%, Handle Percentage: 34.8%
Dallas Mavericks (+2500)
Ticket Percentage: 6.1%, Handle Percentage: Not specified
In terms of liability, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, and Los Angeles Lakers are the top three teams, with the Cavaliers and Lakers drawing the most significant handle percentages. The substantial bets on the Cavaliers, bolstered by a 34.8% handle, suggest strong sentiment towards LeBron’s former team while the 33.0% on the Lakers goes in line with LeBron's publicly-stated desire to play with his son.
Analysis
The betting community's enthusiasm for Bronny reflects a combination of his potential, the high-profile nature of his father, and the narrative appeal of his draft journey. Despite being undersized for a shooting guard and lacking the ball-handling skills typically required for a point guard, the public's interest remains high. This betting activity could signal either a belief in his untapped potential or simply a sentimental gamble on a high-profile name.
As the draft approaches, it will be interesting to see if the betting trends shift based on new information or performance insights. For now, Bronny James remains one of the most intriguing and talked-about prospects, both on the court and for bookmakers.