2 days ago
Despite his draught placement and assemblage numbers, sports bettors are putting their money connected Bronny James to beryllium nan NBA Rookie of nan Year by nan extremity of adjacent season.
On June 27, nan Los Angeles Lakers selected LeBron James' inferior pinch nan 55th prime successful nan 2024 NBA Draft - making them nan first begetter and boy tandem successful nan league.
Nearly a week aft his selection, BetMGM told nan New York Post that James (250/1) has received a 3rd of nan bets connected nan Rookie of nan Year marketplace - doubling nan second-most bet-on action successful Zach Edey of nan Memphis Grizzlies (16 per cent).
The outrageous number of wagers for James to triumph nan grant resulted successful 17.5 per cent of nan handle, nan second-most down Edey's 51.3 per cent.
While nan sportsbook wouldn't disclose nan amounts put connected nan wagers, nan chance of them hitting is much unlikely.
Bronny James received a 3rd of nan bets to triumph Rookie of nan Year adjacent play connected BetMGM
Bronny and his father, LeBron James, will beryllium nan first begetter and boy tandem successful nan NBA
The purple and golden drafted James aft his lone play astatine nan University of Southern California.
As a freshman, nan erstwhile Sierra Canyon prima played successful 25 games and made six starts for nan Trojans. James averaged only 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists arsenic his squad vanished pinch a 15-18 record, placing ninth successful nan Pac-12.
Besides his none-NBA numbers, James is apt to beryllium beneath guards D'Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Austin Reaves, Max Christie, Dalton Knecht, and possibly moreover Cam Reddish and Jalen Hood-Schifino, connected nan Lakers' extent chart.
However, should James beryllium to beryllium a second-round bargain successful an different lackluster draught class, he would beryllium nan lowest draught prime to triumph ROTY honors. The grounds is presently held by Malcolm Brogdon, who won nan grant successful 2017 aft being drafted pinch nan 36th pick.
The Lakers selected Bronny pinch nan 55th wide prime successful nan 2024 NBA Draft connected June 27
Bronny averaged only 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists successful 25 games for nan Trojans
Should he triumph nan Rookie of nan Year award, Bronny would beryllium nan lowest draught prime to do so
Newly-hired Lakers caput coach JJ Redick insists that Bronny 'wasn't handed anything'
Additionally, successful nan 1950s, 2 players were named Rookie of nan Year aft being undrafted - Monk Meineke successful 1953 and Elgin Baylor successful 1959.
'Our biggest liability is Bronny,' BetMGM's Christian Cipollini told Vegas Insider. 'It's nan first clip we've seen thing for illustration this, wherever nan nationalist is each complete a precocious second-round pick.'
Both begetter and boy secured deals pinch nan Lakers connected Tuesday pinch LeBron inking a two-year, $104million extension. On nan different hand, Bronny will reportedly motion a four-year, $7.9m rookie deal.
'I consciousness for illustration I've been fixed nan opportunity to showcase what I tin really do because I wasn't fixed that overmuch of an opportunity astatine SC,' James said during his introductory property convention connected Tuesday. 'I'm excited for what is to come.'
