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Casual Bettors are Backing Bronny James to go First Overall in 2024 NBA Draft

Andrew Brennan

Last Updated: May 23, 2024 2:32 PM EDT • 1 min 59 sec read.

Bronny James of the USC Trojans looks on in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats.
Bronny James of the USC Trojans looks on in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats. Photo by David Becker/Getty Images via AFP.

Following a disappointing freshman season at USC, Bronny James is somehow among the most popular options at some of the best sports betting sites to go first overall in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft.

Bronny, the son of LeBron James for those who live under a rock, averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over 19.4 minutes in his first collegiate season. However, he's the biggest liability at two of our best sports betting apps.

Both BetMGM and bet365 are reporting that James is their biggest liability when it comes to the June 26 draft. Roughly 22.5% of the tickets at BetMGM are on James to be the first overall pick. He's the most popular player through BetMGM's NBA draft market alongside 19-year-old French professional Alex Sarr.

BetMGM has James priced at +20000 to go first overall, while Sarr is the favorite at -300. However, according to Ben Fawkes, BetMGM isn't concerned, as most of the bets are reportedly smaller in nature - relatively speaking, that is. 

"Nothing over $100," Fawkes reports.

Meanwhile, James is listed at +3300 at bet365 after previously trading at +10000. The aggressive movement is the result of his popularity there, too.

Why all the action?

It's curious as to why potentially more casual bettors are flocking to bet James to go first overall. As previously mentioned, he struggled during his first season with USC, and his physical attributes - 6-foot-1.5, 210 lbs - are a far cry from being elite at the NBA level.

It's possible bettors with smaller bankrolls are just taking a risk on James thanks to his long odds. The reason for the increased action at BetMGM and bet365 could be that James isn't being offered at all of the best NBA betting sites.

DraftKings doesn't include James in its first overall pick market, and it's unclear if it has any plans to do so.

Interestingly, FanDuel does feature James at +20000 odds, though he's reportedly not in the sportsbook's top five in handle.

Who will draft Bronny?

The far more intriguing - and realistic - market for those interested in betting on James' draft night experience is based on which team will draft him. That market is offered at nearly all of our best sportsbooks, with the Los Angeles Lakers naturally serving as the favorites.

It's long been reported that LeBron would love to play alongside his son in the NBA, and the Lakers are hovering around +150 to be the team to draft Bronny.

However, it's possible Los Angeles won't have a first-round pick if the New Orleans Pelicans decide to exercise their option to take the Lakers' first selection at 17th overall. If that's the case, Bronny would have to fall to the 55th overall pick for the Lakers to land him.

That's likely why the Cleveland Cavaliers - who draft 20th overall - are among the favorites to draft Bronny, and have the highest handle at BetMGM on the second-most tickets.

FanDuel also reports that the Cavaliers are alongside the Lakers as the most popular draft destinations for the son of the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

Written By:
Andrew Brennan
Andrew Brennan is a publishing editor for Sportsbook Review. He's been a Boston Red Sox fan for over 20 years and a Liverpool supporter for nearly a decade. He's probably watching, talking about, or thinking about sports while you read this.