Bronny James Goes Scoreless, Boogie Ellis Stars as USC Beats ASU for 2nd Straight Win
Mar 8, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: USC Trojans guard Boogie Ellis (5) dribbles during a college basketball game against the UCLA Bruins on February 24, 2024 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Boogie Ellis' stellar night carried USC to an 81-73 victory over Arizona State as it looks to build positive momentum going into the Pac-12 tournament.
The fifth-year senior scored a game-high 28 points on 6-of-8 shooting from three in 26 minutes. It was the third time he has scored at least 24 points in the past five games. He only reached that mark four times in the Trojans' first 21 games.
Ellis scored or assisted on 25 of USC's 49 points in the second half to help the team pull away.
Boogie Ellis led the game with 28 points as USC takes down Arizona State in L.A! ✌️
Bronny James' struggles down the stretch this season continued. The freshman guard was held scoreless for the second straight game and went 0-of-2 from the field. He had two assists, one rebound and one steal in 16 minutes.
This is the second time this season that James has failed to make a basket and score in consecutive games.
Jose Perez led Arizona State with 25 points. The Bronx native made all 11 of his free-throw attempts. The Sun Devils were successful on 18.8 percent of their three-pointers (3-of-16).
USC has won two straight three of its last four games. Head coach Andy Enfield's team will wrap up the regular season on Saturday when they host No. 5 Arizona at the Galen Center. The Wildcats won the first meeting between these two teams 82-67 on Jan. 17.
The Wildcats have won six straight games against their Pac-12 rivals. USC's last victory was on Jan. 7, 2021.
USC is on track to be the No. 11 seed in the Pac-12 tournament but could climb as high as No. 9 if it defeats Arizona and Arizona State loses to UCLA.
Bronny James' 2024 NBA Draft Decision Dependent on Team Interest, Rich Paul Says
Mar 3, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: USC Trojans guard Bronny James (6) dribbles during a college basketball game against the UCLA Bruins on February 24, 2024 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
USC freshman Bronny James' decision to enter the 2024 NBA draft appears to be based on the teams interested in him rather than the pick that he'll be selected with.
Rich Paul, the agent and longtime friend of LeBron James, weighed in on the choice that the younger James will make.
"I don't value a young player getting into the lottery as much as I do getting him on the right team in the right developmental situation," Paul said on Saturday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The ideal situation for Bronny could be on a team that his father isn't playing for, despite the elder James' interest in sharing the court with his son in the NBA.
"LeBron wants Bronny to be his own man," Paul said, although he noted that LeBron would be "head over heels excited if that were to happen organically."
The 19-year-old has struggled to maintain his efficiency as he's moved back and forth between the starting lineup and the bench, averaging 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game before Saturday's action while shooting 37.4 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three.
James didn't fare much better against Washington on Saturday, attempting just one shot in 14 minutes off the bench while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out two assists. It's worth noting that he didn't make his college debut until Dec. 10 as he recovered from suffering a cardiac arrest during a workout in July. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
If there isn't an NBA team or situation that he feels comfortable with, he could return to college for his sophomore year. That way, James would be able to go through a normal offseason and avoid joining his teammates on the floor just over a month into the season. It isn't difficult to imagine his shooting percentages increasing in that scenario, too.
Bronny James Goes Scoreless, Isaiah Collier Drops 31 as USC Upsets Washington
Mar 2, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: USC Trojans guard Bronny James (6) during a college basketball game against the UCLA Bruins on February 24, 2024 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The USC Trojans earned a big conference victory over Washington Saturday, but freshman Bronny James was reduced to a limited role in the win.
The Trojans won 82-75 to improve to 12-17 on the season and had some notable breakout performances. This includes guard Isaiah Collier, who had 31 points and went 14-of-20 from the field. Forward D.J. Rodman and guard Boogie Ellis also had 17 points each, with the two combining for 10 rebounds as well.
James, meanwhile, went scoreless and only attempted one shot. He did grab three rebounds and dished out two assists, including one that made waves on social media.
Bronny throws a near full-court pass to @BoogieEllis for the slam‼️
While there was plenty to like from the Trojans in the upset victory, James' inability to make a significant impact still dominated much of the discussion on social media.
I’ve watched this entire Washington/USC game so far and I can say two things without any doubt…. Collier on Cincinnati this year would’ve made us a tournament team. The dude is so good. And Bronny isn’t even close to an NBA player yet. But tbf most freshman aren’t…
Bronny should transfer to Michigan, he would get hella PT over here
— Cades Attorney 💼👨🏾💼 (@CadesAttorney) March 2, 2024
James is averaging 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 19 games for USC in 2023-24, and at this point, it's unclear if he will return for his sophomore season or declare for the 2024 NBA draft.
Until then, however, he will look to help the Trojans finish out the season strong as USC has two games left on their regular season slate.
Bronny James Limited to 2 Points with 4 Fouls as USC Loses to No. 19 Washington State
Mar 1, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: USC Trojans guard Bronny James (6) during a college basketball game against the UCLA Bruins on February 24, 2024 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Bronny James played limited minutes while dealing with foul trouble Thursday night as USC fell short of a big upset of No. 19 Washington State, losing 75-72.
James got on the board early, hitting a contested jumper a few minutes into the matchup, but from there he couldn't get much going and played just three minutes in the first half after picking up a pair of fouls.
James saw a little more action in the second half but once again saw his time limited by foul trouble. He finished with just two points, a rebound and four fouls.
Isaiah Collier led the way for the Trojans in the scoring department, notching 24 points and continuing to show why he will likely be a first-round pick in this year's NBA draft.
Unfortunately for Collier, his efforts weren't enough to propel USC to its best win of the season.
Leading by as many as nine points, the Trojans looked to be in good position for the upset halfway through the second half, but a run from the Cougars put them on top as they avoided the upset.
The Trojans dropped to 11-18 and 5-12 in Pac-12 play with the loss. With just three games left to play in the regular season, a tournament bid seems nearly impossible for USC.
Still fresh in his college career, Bronny has plenty of time to find his footing. He's shown flashes at various points throughout the season, such as when he scored 15 points early on in conference play against Oregon State.
James entered the game averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season. As he continues to develop, he could turn into a valuable player for the Trojans.
Lakers' LeBron James: Bronny's Work and Results Will Do the Talking, Not Mock Drafts
Feb 26, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 10: USC Trojans guard Bronny James (6) warms up as his parents Lebron James and Savannah James look on before the college basketball game between the Washington State Cougars and the USC Trojans on January 10, 2024 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LeBron James is a four-time champion, one of the best basketball players in history and, apparently, not the biggest fan of mock drafts.
The King took to social media Monday to react to a post stating that ESPN removed the younger James from its 2024 mock draft and instead projected him to go to the NBA in 2025 and said, "if y'all don't know he doesn't care what a mock draft says, he just WORKS! Earned Not Given!"
James also said mock drafts don't matter "one bit" and encouraged younger players to keep "striving to be great."
ESPN isn't the only publication that doesn't envision Bronny James being drafted in 2024.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman did not include the USC guard in his most recent two-round mock draft, which was released Friday.
James is just a freshman for the Trojans and has been a secondary contributor. He is averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 37.1 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three-point range for an 11-16 squad.
It should be noted he missed some of the team's summer training and did not debut until more than a month into the season because he was recovering from the cardiac arrest he suffered in July.
If James does stay at USC, he will have a year of college basketball experience under his belt and, presumably, an entire offseason to prepare for the 2024-25 campaign. That should help him be a bigger factor for the Trojans during his sophomore season if he forgoes the NBA.
There has also been no shortage of speculation about LeBron James wanting to play alongside his son in the NBA at some point. The 20-time All-Star has a player option with the Los Angeles Lakers and could choose to exercise it and become a free agent during the same summer as the 2025 NBA draft.
If that is the same offseason that Bronny James chooses to go to the NBA, his father could wait to see what team drafts him and then go there in free agency.
For now, though, the younger James is focused on helping the Trojans improve down the stretch and, if his father is to be believed, not paying attention to any mock drafts.
USC's Bronny James' 1st Half Playing Time Has CBB Fans Baffled vs. UCLA
Feb 25, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: USC Trojans guard Bronny James (6) dribbles up the court during the college basketball game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the USC Trojans on February 17, 2024 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
USC freshman Bronny James had a rough start to Saturday's game against UCLA.
The son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James notched just two points, two assists and one rebound in the first half against the Bruins. However, he played just six minutes before the two sides went to the locker room tied at 34.
Bronny's lack of playing time in the first half had college basketball fans questioning why head coach Andy Enfield wasn't utilizing him more:
They are not giving bronny any playing time tonight😂😂😂
— 🐿Mr_Swaveyyyyy🐿Lil Steve👓The Boy Who Lived⚡️ (@TevinLatrey) February 25, 2024
Bro give Bronny more mins who’s the coach Darvin Ham?
Folks will watch this usc game and swear bronny ain't doing nothing, this man been on the bench this whole 11-1 run while usc players constantly turn the ball over and play bad basketball.
Bronny entered Saturday's game averaging 20.4 minutes per night, so it's unclear why Enfield opted to keep him on the bench for much of the first half.
That said, the 19-year-old hasn't exactly had a big impact when he's on the floor. Through 18 games entering Saturday, he averaged just 5.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 36.5 percent from the floor and 27.5 percent from deep.
Bronny's rather poor performance likely isn't all his fault as the Trojans have struggled mightily this year despite entering the season with high expectations. They sit 11th in the Pac-12 with a 10-16 record.
Lakers' LeBron James on If USC's Bronny Will Enter 2024 NBA Draft: 'It's Up to Him'
Feb 19, 2024
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 07: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shouts to his son, Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans, during Bronny's game against the California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion on February 07, 2024 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LeBron James has never made it a secret that he wants to play in the NBA at the same time as his son, Bronny James, either on the same team or against one another.
But the elder James told the Inside the NBA crew on TNT before Sunday's All-Star Game that Bronny would ultimately make the decision about whether to go pro or stay in school.
"It's up to him. It's up to the kid," he said. "Obviously we gonna go through the whole process. He's still in season now, has the Pac-12 tournament coming up. ... We gonna weigh our options, and we gonna let the kid make the decision."
Rumors have been flying of late that teams may try to pry James away from the Los Angeles Lakers if he doesn't exercise his $51.4 million player option this offseason, and one way to potentially court him would be drafting Bronny.
Not only are rival executives increasingly convinced that James might want out, but they're also focused on the Bronny James factor, which continues to loom large. James has been talking for years now about the dream scenario of playing with his oldest son who, if he chooses, can leave USC this summer and enter the draft. The idea, then, is that any team that wants to up its chances of landing James should make it a priority to go after Bronny first.
And a few days earlier, NBA reporter Marc Stein noted: "I know of at least two teams on the NBA map that believe James would consider signing with them at far less than $51.4 million if Bronny is on the roster. There might be more."
There's little need for rumors when it comes to James' desire to play with his son, however—he's publicly expressed that dream scenario.
"I need to be on the floor with my boy, he told ESPN's Dave McMenamin in Jan. 2023. "I got to be on the floor with Bronny,"
"Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him," he added. "I don't mean like [guarding one another all game]—because he's a point guard and I'm a—at this point now I'm playing center or whatever the team needs from me. But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure."
The major question mark in all of this, however, is whether Bronny is actually anywhere close to being NBA-ready. This season for USC, he's averaging 5.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 20.5 minutes per game while shooting just 36.5 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three. He's made just six starts in 18 total appearances.
Those numbers don't exactly pop off the page, and while Bronny James is a solid defender and distributor, he would likely be a minus on the offensive end early in his career. Maybe he could eventually carve out a role for himself at the NBA level, but most prospects with his profile are better served spending more time in college.
But most prospects aren't the son of LeBron James. And that adds a whole different element to the entire situation.
Bronny James Held to 2 Points, 2 Assists as Colorado Beats USC in 2OT
Feb 18, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: USC Trojans guard Bronny James (6) dribbles up the court during the college basketball game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the USC Trojans on February 17, 2024 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Bronny James had a quiet night off the bench, as USC blew a second-half lead before falling to Colorado in double overtime by the final score of 92-89 on Saturday night.
In his second consecutive game as a reserve, James notched two points and two assists to go along with one steal while connecting on one of his two field goal attempts. It comes as a disappointment after the freshman scored seven points and dished out three assists in just 20 minutes of action on Thursday,
While he wasn't extremely aggressive on offense, he showed off his improving defensive instincts as James has now recorded six steals in his past six appearances.
His only basket of the night was also an impressive one, catching a lob in transition and finishing through contact to deliver an improbable shot off the glass.
James has struggled to string together consistent performances throughout the year, as he lowered his scoring average to just 5.7 points per game after Saturday night's action. His next opportunity to bounce back will come against UCLA on Feb. 24.
Bronny James Scores 7 Points as USC Beats Utah, Ends 2-Game Losing Skid
Feb 16, 2024
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans shoots a foul shot against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half of an NCAA basketball game at Stanford Maples Pavilion on February 10, 2024 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Coming off the bench for the first time since February 1, Bronny James scored seven points to help USC snap its two-game losing streak with a 68-64 win over Utah on Thursday.
The freshman guard shot 2-of-4 from the field (1-of-3 from behind the arc) with three assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block in 20 minutes.
After trailing by as many as nine points in the second half, Utah went on a 15-4 run to take a 51-49 lead midway with 13:05 remaining. The Trojans scored nine straight points points to go back up 58-51.
James made a good play late in the second half when he grabbed an offensive rebound after Boogie Ellis' three-point attempt and drove to the basket for a layup to give USC what would be its final points until the final seconds.
The Utes did get back within two points on Branden Carlson's jumper with 2:01 left to play. The two teams combined to miss their next four field-goal attempts before DJ Rodman's layup at the buzzer to give USC the four-point margin of victory.
USC head coach Andy Enfield has been juggling his lineups recently in an attempt to find a spark. He moved James to the starting five for the previous three games, with Kobe Johnson coming off the bench.
The results were mixed for James in the starting lineup. He combined to shoot 6-of-19 from the field with 11 rebounds and 10 assists in those three games.
Johnson was back in the starting unit on Thursday. He scored nine points on 4-of-11 shooting with six rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes.
Thursday's win was just the second in the last 10 games for the Trojans. They have a 10-15 record with six games remaining in the regular season. Their next game will be on Saturday at Galen Center against Colorado.
Bronny James Transfer Called for by CBB Fans as USC Routed by Stanford
Feb 11, 2024
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 07: Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans dribbles the ball down court against the California Golden Bears in the first half at Haas Pavilion on February 07, 2024 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
USC entered the 2023-24 season with high expectations after landing the likes of top recruits in Isaiah Collier and Bronny James, but the program's struggles only continued on Saturday night against Stanford.
The Trojans were eviscerated by the Cardinal 99-68 and dropped to 9-15 on the season. It marked the team's second straight loss and eighth loss in its last 10 games.
Collier finished with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. His 18 points led the team.
Random thought but I would’ve liked to see Bronny go to Ohio State over USC.
The Big Ten is better top to bottom and he’s doing himself a MAJOR disservice by playing for the worst team in the PAC-12. Plus I think he would’ve been a great fit in Columbus, all things considered
James entered Saturday's game averaging just 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 15 games while shooting 36.1 percent from the floor and 26.7 percent from deep.
He's widely expected to make the jump to the NBA after this season, though it's worth wondering if he'll opt for another year in college basketball given USC's struggles.
The Trojans will be back in action on Thursday against Utah.
