Despite not even stepping foot on the court in college yet, Bronny James is set to make more than all but five rookies in the 2023 NBA draft.
As outlined at OvertimeHeroics.net, Bronny, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, is set to make over $5.9 million in NIL money during his freshman season at the University of Southern California, the most in the nation. This includes deals with massive brands like Nike, Beats by Dre, and PSD Underwear.
Famous Family
Looking at the top five highest-paid college athletes next season, you start to see a specific connection. Outside of talented LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne and reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams, the other three are all related to iconic Hall of Fame players. Besides Bronny, University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders ($4.8 million) is the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders and Arch Manning ($2.8 million) is the nephew of all-time great quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning.
And this makes complete sense. Coming from famous families, these players all have a level of notoriety and the potential for YouTube gold-reel highlights coming into college that makes brands salivate.
A Promising Prospect
Bronny might not be the five-star national sensation that you’d expect to be the highest-paid college athlete in the country, but he’s still an excellent player with serious NBA potential.
Coming out of the prestigious Sierra Canyon High School, the four-star prospect showcased a solid all-around game as an unselfish combo guard. Playing on one of the strongest teams in the nation, Bronny didn’t truly break out until his senior season, when he averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
The best parts of Bronny’s game right now are his shooting ability, athleticism, and off-ball defense, but he’s shown enough potential to hopefully one day be a lead ball-handler. He probably won’t be the superstar his father is, but Bronny could easily end up being a first-round draft pick in 2024.
Bronny James’ Debut
Despite the hype, it is still unknown when Bronny will make his debut for the USC men's basketball team. In a scary situation this summer, the younger James went into cardiac arrest during a basketball workout but luckily went on to make a full recovery.
During the Lakers media day on October 2nd, LeBron said he would be dedicating his upcoming season to his eldest son with hopes that Bronny’s time at USC keeps him off the injury list with his heart issue under control.
"Obviously, I'm going to dedicate this season to Bronny because of the incident that happened this summer and understanding that it just puts everything in perspective and no matter what's going on in your life at that point in time, the only thing that matters is your family," James said. "To see what he's had to go through over the last few months, it's been a lot."
What Else Would You Expect?
At the end of the day, is it really a surprise that Bronny James will be the highest-paid college athlete in the nation this season? With a living legend of a father, a massive social media presence, and prime location in the heart of LA, Bronny was always bound to be a beacon for potential sponsors.
Love him or hate him, the four-star recruit’s debut will be one of the most highly anticipated in college basketball's recent history. If you want to place a bet on the USC Trojans this season, there are a range of various betting options available.
