2024-25 Bronny James Odds, Prop Bets and Predictions

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Bronny James logged the first minutes of his NBA career in the Los Angeles Lakers’ season-opening win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in a Western Conference showdown. James checked into the game in the 2^nd quarter, but only logged 3 minutes of playing time. In that short stint, the rookie grabbed a rebound and missed the only 2 shots he attempted before he was subbed back out.

Based on that rotation, it’s fair to assume that the Lakers were simply doing a stunt. Bronny and his father, LeBron James, became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together. There’s been quite a bit of build-up to this moment since the Lakers drafted Bronny in the 2^nd round of the draft earlier this year.  We’ll see if he gets any minutes when the Lakers next face the Pacific Division rival Phoenix Suns, but it seems unlikely.

However, given how underwhelming Bronny was in his lone collegiate season at USC, it’s fair to assume he won’t be a regular fixture in LA’s rotation moving forward. He never came into the game again after that 2^nd-quarter stint. The Lakers have an aging roster with aspirations of winning an NBA championship now, which means they can’t really afford to force an unproven 20-year-old rookie into the regular rotation.

However, you can still bet on various Bronny James props at some NBA betting sites. When Bronny will get back into a game remains to be seen, but there’s money to be made on some of these player-specific props.

Bronny James Odds

Bronny James Prop Bets

The following is a list of the latest Bronny James prop bets and our predictions:

Bronny James’ Method of First Basket in 2024-25 NBA Regular Season

• Layup (+200)
• 3-Point Field Goal (+200)
• Other (+275)
• Free Throw (+400)
• Dunk (+1000)

As mentioned, James failed to crack the score sheet in his 3 minutes of action in the first game of the campaign. At +200 odds, both the layup and 3-pointer are equally favored to be the method of Bronny’s first NBA points.  He had a tip-in layup attempt blocked by Rudy Gobert, while his lone attempt from beyond the arc caromed off the back rim.

Unlike his father, Bronny isn’t all that physically imposing. At just 6’2” and 210 pounds, the younger James is going to be an undersized shooting guard/small forward at the NBA level. His smallish stature will make it more difficult for him to score points in the paint, of course. That’s presumably why a 3-pointer is just as likely as a layup to be the method of his first bucket.

James also isn’t particularly athletic, so I’d expect him to take most of his shots from the perimeter. Unfortunately, he wasn’t even a good 3-point shooter in college, even with the shorter arc. James converted just 26.7 percent of his threes at USC on 2.4 attempts per game.

If you’re looking for value, James’ first basket to come via a dunk is interesting at +1000. It’s far from the most likely outcome, but we’re also more likely to next see Bronny playing for the Lakers in a blowout. Teams generally stop playing as hard in garbage time, so easy baskets may be easier to come by. Who’s to say Bronny can’t leak out on a break and flush one for his first NBA points?

That said, free throws offer a safer, albeit less flashy, option. The question is whether James will be aggressive enough off the dribble to actually draw a foul. In his first NBA action, he predictably didn’t spend too much time on the ball.

 Finally, the “other” category (+275) might cover more unusual scoring methods, like a floater or tip-in, but this seems less probable given the other scoring methods are more common for guards like Bronny. Overall, the best value seems to lie with the layup or 3-pointer bets, both offering a combination of reasonable odds and likelihood based on Bronny’s playing style.

Bet: 3-Pointer (+200)

Will LeBron James Assist Bronny James’ First NBA Field Goal?

• Yes (+200)
• No (N/A)

This prop bet, with “yes” at +200, holds significant narrative potential, as it’s asking whether LeBron James will assist his son’s first NBA field goal. Given that LeBron is one of the best passers in NBA history, this bet is pretty compelling. LeBron would’ve assisted Bronny in the first game had his 3-pointer fallen.

I like the chances of this bet cashing if they see the floor again at the same time any time soon. Unfotunately, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where that’s the case. Because Bronny is a deep reserve, I’m not sure his playing time will align with his father’s. If the younger James is playing in a blowout scenario, it’s pretty unlikely the Lakers will leave the 39-year-old LeBron out there if the game’s result has already been decided.

If they’re on the court together, the chances increase substantially, given LeBron’s propensity to feed open teammates. Could LeBron lobby JJ Redick to stay in the game to play with Bronny again? It’s possible, but still fairly unlikely. I don’t love the value on the payout of the “yes” side, either, at only +200.

I’ll pass on this prop.

Bet: No Wager

Will Bronny James Assist LeBron for his First Assist?

• Yes (+200)
• No (N/A)

This bet also has “yes” at +200 and takes the inverse approach – will Bronny assist LeBron for his first NBA assist? This bet might be trickier to predict compared to the previous one.

While Bronny has shown flashes of being a capable playmaker, he is more naturally suited as a scorer and off-ball guard. LeBron, on the other hand, has traditionally been the playmaker whenever he’s on the floor. Given that LeBron will continue to be the focal point of the offense, especially if they share the court together, the likelihood of Bronny initiating an assist to LeBron seems slightly lower than the other way around.

The challenge with this prop is timing and role assignment. Bronny will likely need to be in a position where he has the ball in his hands and LeBron is playing off the ball—an unusual but not impossible scenario.

If the Lakers deliberately set up such a play, this could very well happen, particularly as part of a designed play to cement a memorable experience. Still, given the unpredictability of rookie minutes and Bronny’s role as a newcomer, this is a more speculative bet. While the payout is okay, the scenario may rely more on deliberate team strategy than natural game flow.

Bet: Do Not Wager

Bronny James Rookie of the Year Odds

The 2024 draft class was hardly laden with headliners. The Hawks drafted French swingman Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick. Other big-name lottery selections included Alex Sarr (Wizards), Reed Sheppard (Rockets), Stephon Castle (Spurs), and Donovan Clingan (Blazers).

The Rookie of the Year race should be wide-open given the absence of a clear-cut frontrunner. Last season, Victor Wembanyama breezed his way to the award. Sarr (+350) is the early favorite, followed by Risacher (+450), Castle (+700), Zach Edey (+1100), and Sheppard (+1200).

Predictably, James has the longest odds of any player on the board at +25000. As I’ve reiterated, I’m having a very hard time imagining Bronny garnering much playing time for the Lakers with D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves entrenched as the lead guards. LA just handed a contract extension to Max Christie, while the team’s first round pick – Dalton Knecht (+1200 ROY odds) – will surely begin the year ahead of Bronny on the team’s depth chart.

James has a better chance than I do of winning Rookie of the Year next season, but it’s not by much. Check out our complete breakdown of the NBA Rookie of the Year odds, to see who we think will win. Hint: rather than betting money on Bronny (+25000) to win this award, I’d recommend simply flushing that money straight down the toilet or going with our NBA ROTY prediction.

Bet: Do Not Wager