Bronny James expresses his admiration for Steph Curry and hints his NBA future may not be tied to LeBron

THe 2024 NBA Draft is getting closer every day and with it the potential NBA destination for Bronny James – the eldest son of LeBron James. Bronny declared for the draft after one season with the USC Trojans and there is speculation as to where he will go on June 26 – or if he will be drafted at all.

Over the last year, LeBron has tried several times to link his own NBA future with his son's. Essentially, if a team selects Bronny in the draft, that team would have a good chance of signing LeBron once he declines his player option with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. But Bronny might have other plans if his recent comments about Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry are any indication.

Bronny: When I met Steph I was completely blown away

In a recent conversation with Bleacher Report, Bronny further recalled when he met Curry after Game 3 of last season's Western Conference semifinals. Although LeBron and the Lakers won that game 127-97 to take a 2-1 lead, Bronny was most impressed when he faced Curry after the loss.

“He came up to me and dabbed me up,” Bronny said of meeting Steph. “I think that was really cool.”

A four-time NBA champion and the game's all-time leader in 3-point shots, Curry inspired a generation of aspiring NBA stars with a fearless style of play despite his smaller (by NBA standards) stature. Curry's influence can even be felt in the WNBA, where Caitlin Clark began her professional career after lighting up the NCAA and breaking records with Steph-like reaches.

Bronny's own three-point range proves to be a strength in his game. Shooting is the most important skill in the modern NBA, and if teams believe the 19-year-old can shoot from distance at an above-average level, then he will likely find a home in the draft.

But Bronny must contend with the growing perception that he doesn't have the versatility that makes an NBA star. Pure shooters have a better chance of surviving in the NBA than they once did, but Bronny's lone season at USC showed he still has a long way to go – even after being medically cleared following heart problems last summer – to make his way to the top prove to offices that he has an NBA-ready game.