This past summer, the Los Angeles Lakers made headlines by selecting Bronny James, son of LeBron James, with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The decision raised questions due to Bronny’s college career at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points per game and was the eighth-leading scorer on his team. Many have scrutinized his draft position, suggesting nepotism may have influenced the Lakers’ move.
Historically, the No. 55 pick has not been a position associated with significant NBA success. Since the year 2000, few players drafted at No. 55 have made a lasting impact in the league.
Bronny’s Summer League performance, where he averaged 8.8 points per game on 35% shooting and just 15.8% from three-point range, did little to silence critics.
However, the Lakers showed their faith in his potential by signing him to a four-year, $7.9 million contract, with the first three years guaranteed.
Looking at the history of the No. 55 pick provides some context for what Bronny might face. Over the past two decades, most No. 55 selections have struggled to find regular playing time in the NBA, with only a handful making a name for themselves.
Notable No. 55 picks since 2000
One of the most successful No. 55 picks is Patty Mills, drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2009. Mills has played almost 900 NBA games and is known for his sharpshooting, particularly from beyond the arc. He has career averages of 8.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 20.2 minutes per game, and he played a crucial role in the San Antonio Spurs’ 2014 NBA Championship run.
In contrast, many No. 55 picks have had shorter or less impactful careers. Jeremy Evans, drafted in 2010 by the Utah Jazz, appeared in 250 NBA games, averaging 3.5 points and 2.6 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per game before his career moved to various international leagues.
Marcus Paige, the No. 55 pick in 2016, played 5 games in the NBA before venturing to play in Europe. Arnoldas Kulboka, drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 2018, has also struggled to secure a spot in the NBA and has played primarily in Europe.
Complete list of No. 55 picks since 2000
- 2000: Chris Porter – Golden State Warriors
- 2001: Maurice Jeffers – Sacramento Kings
- 2002: Mladen Sekularac – Dallas Mavericks
- 2003: Rick Rickert – Minnesota Timberwolves
- 2004: Luis Flores – Houston Rockets
- 2005: Lawrence Roberts – Seattle SuperSonics
- 2006: Ejike Ugboaja – Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2007: Herbert Hill – Utah Jazz
- 2008: Miles Cross – Portland Trail Blazers
- 2009: Patty Mills – Portland Trail Blazers
- 2010: Jeremy Evans – Utah Jazz
- 2011: E’Twaun Moore – Boston Celtics
- 2012: Darius Johnson-Odom – Dallas Mavericks
- 2013: Joffrey Lauvergne – Memphis Grizzlies
- 2014: Semaj Christon – Miami Heat
- 2015: Cady Lalanne – San Antonio Spurs
- 2016: Marcus Paige – Brooklyn Nets
- 2017: Nigel Williams-Goss – Utah Jazz
- 2018: Arnoldas Kulboka – Charlotte Hornets
- 2019: Kyle Guy – New York Knicks
- 2020: Jay Scrubb – Brooklyn Nets
- 2021: David Johnson – Toronto Raptors
- 2022: Gui Santos – Golden State Warriors
- 2023: Isaiah Wong – Indiana Pacers
- 2024: Bronny James – Los Angeles Lakers
While most No. 55 picks have struggled to make an impact, there are rare exceptions like Mills, who defied the odds and enjoyed a long career.
For Bronny, being picked at No. 55 places him in a position with historically limited expectations. However, given his lineage and the Lakers’ investment in his development, he may have an opportunity to exceed the typical output from this draft spot.
