2024 NBA Draft Betting Odds: Sportsbooks Post Bronny James Prop

After the Atlanta Hawks took home the No. 1 overall pick at the NBA Draft Lottery, the “worst draft in a decade” narrative surfaced. Couple that with NBA Finals odds still up in the air, and there isn’t nearly as much intrigue as in previous years. However, with the deadline passing for college players to withdraw from the draft, the storylines have increased ahead of the main event on June 26. Let’s examine the latest NBA draft odds, particularly where Bronny James may end up.

Click on any NBA betting odds below to place a wager. These prices are the best available in your state.

NBA draft odds: Will Bronny James play with Lebron?

On Wednesday, agent Rich Paul confirmed that USC freshman guard Bronny James will remain in the 2024 NBA Draft, renouncing the rest of his collegiate eligibility. Paul also noted James won’t sign a two-way contract, which permits players to latch onto an NBA and G-League team.

According to reports, Bronny James has over 10 workout invites from various NBA teams. Nevertheless, he will only visit some of them, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns. Considering he’s LeBron James’ son, it shouldn’t be surprising to see the Lakers atop the NBA draft odds board at +160. League insider Shams Charania has even reported that Bronny was “among several players” the Suns have mulled over with their first-round pick at No. 22 overall.

Phoenix has the second-best odds as of this publishing, priced in the +750 range per the table above.

Which Path Adds Up?

If the Suns are eyeing James, they must draft him with their first-round pick or trade into the second round. The No. 22 pick is currently their only selection this go-around. The Lakers will likely have the No. 17 and No. 55 picks, as long as the Pelicans choose their 2025 first-rounder over this year’s selection. The deadline to defer is June 1, originally from the Anthony Davis trade.

Interestingly enough, FanDuel and DraftKings Sportsbook have drastically different prices for the other teams on the board, especially the 76ers, Knicks, and Thunder. Then again, FanDuel has a maximum wager of $25 for any team in this market, meaning the operator’s liability won’t be high — even if James lands with any of them. Other teams, like the Heat, Warriors, Clippers, and Bulls, are stationed at +2200 or greater.

Elsewhere, BetMGM Sportsbook recently reported that James (+20000) accrued 22.5% of the tickets for the top pick. But France product Alexandre Sarr (-250) has collected 81.4% of the handle. Sarr has been touted as the No. 1 overall selection in many mock drafts, aligning with his current standing as the favorite to be the first player off the board.

Moreover, BetMGM has showcased this market for quite some time. That partially explains why bettors have been intrigued by James in this market. Still, he underperformed at USC, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Even if a customer placed this wager earlier in the year, James wasn’t delivering the buzz of a top-tier pick at any point of the 2023-24 campaign.

Buy Into Bronny’s NBA Draft Odds Buzz?

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst stated that the league-wide belief is that James will opt out of his deal. According to Windhorst, the notion behind James’ decision is “more for contract structure” than having any inclination to move on from Los Angeles.

The table above aligns with Windhorst’s comments, as James’ draft position is slightly juiced to the over at Caesars Sportsbook. That insinuates the Lakers will nab him with their second pick. Still, there’s always the chance of Los Angeles needing to jump the Suns in the first round to acquire James. If the Lakers go this route, the under 39.5 on James’ draft position cashes in.

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