LaVar Ball Advises Bronny James to Play Professionally in Australia Rather Than Go to College

Bronny James played his final high school basketball game with Sierra Canyon earlier this month, but he will not be eligible for the NBA draft for another year.

James will need to decide if he wants to spend at least a year in college, or play professionally in the United States or overseas. LaVar Ball believes Bronny should go with the latter.

Ball tells Sporting News Australia that LeBron’s oldest son would draw large crowds consisting of intrigued individuals and doubters alike.

“People wanna see, he gonna fill the gym up,” Ball said, as transcribed by Clutch Points. “Two things gonna happen. When you’re young, and you like that, and your dad is where he’s at…lot of people going to come to the gym and say, ‘He ain’t like that for real.’ The other half is going to want to support him. So the gym is going to fill up.”

Ball also suggested that James could simply get paid while playing professionally, instead of trying to balance basketball and school.

LeBron and Savannah James toldSports Illustrated last summer that their son’s preference is college. It’s unknown if his stance has changed.

According to the Athletic, a player must be 19 years old during the calendar year that the draft is held in order to be eligible. When Ball’s youngest son LaMelo encountered the same situation, he chose to sign with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League.

LaMelo previously jeopardized his chances of playing in the NCAA because he had been using his likeness to promote a sneaker line, Big Baller Brand, and was represented by an agent, both of which are a violation.

A sign of the changing times, Bronny currently has an NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deal with Beats by Dre and Nike.