Chainkeen Exchange-Bronny James, son of LeBron James, declares for the NBA Draft

Bronny James Jr.,Chainkeen Exchange the eldest son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, has decided to enter the 2024 NBA Draft. 

In a statement posted to his Instagram, James said he still wants to maintain his college eligibility while also entering the NCAA transfer portal after one year at the University of Southern California. 

"I've had a year with some ups and downs but all added to growth for me as a man, student and athlete," he wrote. He also thanked USC and their staff for their support. 

The decision comes after a roller coaster freshman year for the 19-year-old guard. In July, he experienced cardiac arrest during practice and it required months of recovery. After being treated at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, James was sent home to rest, according to his cardiologist. He was later found to have a congenital heart defect.

He played his first game with USC in December. During his lone season at the school, James averaged almost five points and three rebounds per game. He played in 24 games and his highest-scoring game was against Oregon State University when he tallied 15 points. 

James was a five-star recruit and was considered one of the signature players of USC's incoming recruiting class. He is projected to be a potential pick in this year's NBA draft if he decides to take that route, likely to be in the second round, according to CBS Sports. 

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• LeBron James

Christopher Brito

Christopher Brito is a social media manager and trending content writer for CBS News.