Blake Griffin believes the Los Angeles Lakers made a mistake when they gave Bronny James nearly $8 million in guaranteed money after selecting him with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Griffin, speaking about Bronny’s situation, made it clear that he doesn’t have a problem with the Lakers drafting LeBron James’ son. Instead, he questioned why the organization deviated from what would typically be offered to a player selected that late in the draft.
“Give him what is normal for the pick. If you can get drafted, go get drafted,” Griffin said.
Griffin argued that Bronny could have received a standard contract and then spent significant time developing in the G League without creating additional controversy surrounding his NBA opportunity.
“I have zero issues with him getting drafted at the 55th pick,” Griffin said. “I have zero issues at the Lakers being like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to do this.’”
The former NBA All-Star also pointed to Bronny’s earning potential outside of his NBA salary, noting that the young guard had already generated substantial income through NIL opportunities before entering the league.
“Just give him the normal thing, and you get everybody off his back,” Griffin said. “Have him play in the G League.”
Was Griffin Right?
Griffin’s argument raises an interesting question about whether the Lakers could have handled Bronny’s transition into the NBA differently.
Bronny’s selection was always going to generate enormous attention because of his relationship with LeBron James. The Lakers ultimately had an opportunity to develop a young player while potentially creating NBA history by putting father and son on the court together.
However, guaranteeing nearly $8 million to the No. 55 pick added another layer to an already heavily scrutinized situation.
A more traditional contract could have allowed Bronny to focus almost entirely on development while reducing some of the criticism that his NBA opportunity was influenced by his famous father.
At the same time, Bronny still had to make the most of the opportunity once he got it. Being selected in the second round doesn’t guarantee a long NBA career, and his development would ultimately determine how far he could go.
Griffin’s comments don’t necessarily argue that Bronny didn’t deserve an NBA opportunity.
Instead, they’re centered on how the Lakers chose to structure that opportunity.
And that’s where the debate begins.
Did the Lakers make a mistake by guaranteeing Bronny nearly $8 million, or was it simply a smart investment in a unique situation?
What do you think?
