Savannah James, Bronny’s mother, was on the court on Thursday when the rookie guard’s team, the USC Trojans, lost to No. 6 Arizona 70-49 in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals. As Bronny and his teammates warmed up prior to tipoff, the two exchanged hugs.

While LeBron James did not attend the tournament in Las Vegas, he did attend USC games to encourage his son. The LA Lakers’ loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday was 120-107.

USC (15-18) lost, falling out of the tournament and probably ending its 2023–2024 campaign. The Trojans might receive an invitation to a smaller postseason competition even if they have no shot in the Big Dance.

As things stand, concerns will surface over Bronny James’s future.

What season will Bronny James be back at USC?Regarding Bronny James’s return to USC for the upcoming season, nothing has been announced. His freshman season, which began on December 10 after his cardiac arrest in July, saw him average 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. His stats do not even come close to placing him among the top 2024 NBA draft prospects.

James was selected in the second round of the 2025 mock draft by ESPN, however he is no longer in the 2024 edition. Draft expert Jonathan Givony, in conversation with Malika Andrews on “NBA Today,” stated:

“The trµth is that this season, Bronny James has not performed at the level of a player who comes and goes. He’s been moving the ball left and right while playing hσt potato with his teammates, but he hasn’t really been assertive.”They have needed him to step up and demonstrate that he is an NBA player because he has missed opportunities to really give the game his all when they have been injured.”

James’ defensive prowess was also acknowledged by Givony, who referred to him as “one of the best defenders in this freshman class.”

In a since-deleted post, Bronny James’s father LeBron defended the guard in response to the mock draft snub, demanding that people stop bullying his son. LeBron continued, saying mock drafts are meaningless.

Simultaneously, Rich Paul, LeBron’s agent, disclosed that Bronny’s decision to join the NBA was driven more by team interest than draft equity.