Bronny James' agent has admitted that he has limited draft workouts to two teams

After several direct sources from NBA teams told the media that they could not get a workout with Bronny James expected before the 2024 NBA Draft, his agent Rich Paul confirmed that he only allowed the young man to practice with two. Clubs: Lakers and Suns.

The CEO of Clutch Sports Group acknowledged that the decisions were made by design, and dismissed any notion that the rising star received different treatment than any other athlete during the pre-draft process. While Phoenix held the No. 1 pick 22, the purple and gold team has numbers 17 and 55, hoping to get Bronny in the second round.

Paul confirmed: “This is not a new thing. “The aim is to find a team that appreciates your boy and try to push him to get there. It's important to understand the context and realize that this has been the strategy with many of my clients over the years, especially those who need improvement like Bronny. My things are made by design. “

Bronny James just went UNDRAWN in the first round #NBADraft2024

“I only write if you think I'm good enough.. not for my dad (LeBron)” 💀 pic.twitter.com/FDRNZzUAO8

– clipped 🛸 (@clippedszn) June 27, 2024

The agent, who is also LeBron's representative, explained that he always directs clients to the right places, as he did with Chris Livingston as player number 58 in 2023, Brandon Boston Jr. at number 51 in 2021, and Talen. Horton-Tucker, who was No. 46 five years ago.

Paul also notes that he took similar strategies with first-round picks like Darius Garland at No. 5 in 2019 and MarJon Beauchamp, who was No. 24 in 2022. He confirms that protecting players from certain actions is normal. practice, despite things like holding medical information now prohibited by the new CBA.

“Bronny is like my previous clients,” emphasized the representative. “I got a message from the teams early on that if you plan to sign Bronny, here's what you need to know: If you're not going to give him a real contract, there's nothing to talk about. It's hard to get real progress with a two-way deal.

Paul is convinced that it's all about fitness, not the team. “I don't care if he goes to the Lakers, or to Phoenix, and what number he is taken. It's about fitness,” he continued. “If Bronny's name was Charles Jacobsen and he was my client – I would do the same thing: I would find groups of real interest.

LeBron tried his best to keep his eldest son out of the draft and assured the media that “the guy will make up his own mind”.

Despite the fact that the oldest player in the league has repeatedly said that he would like to play with his eldest son before he retires, he also said after his last game of the last campaign that he “hasn't thought too much lately” about competing with Bronny.

LeBron, who is about to play his historic 22nd season, does not want to influence the decision of the 19-year-old player and believes that he is his own man. “The young man will decide what he wants to do and how he wants his career to go,” said James at the time.

Just as the college athlete decided to try out for the draft in May and play at the combines, he admitted that his mind wasn't set on playing with his father. Bronny said the only thing that matters is that he “gets to the league.”

“LeBron is out of this idea of ​​playing with Bronny,” agent Paul told the media. “If he does, he does. But if he doesn't, he doesn't. No agreement has been made that it is guaranteed that if the Lakers draft Bronny at the age of 55, he [LeBron] will re-sign. If that was the case, I would force them to take her at 17. We don't need power. The Lakers can draft Bronny and LeBron doesn't re-sign. LeBron isn't going to Phoenix to get a little money either. We can put an end to that now.”