The 2024 NBA Draft was a night for the state of Kentucky.
The Wildcats’ most beloved player went from a four-star ranking out of high school to the third overall pick.
Anyone who watched Reed in high school and college knew that he was special.
That does not always carry over into the NBA draft. Teams tend to pick players solely based on potential, height or body build.
Players who did not even play their freshmen year of college due to injury have been drafted in the first round.
Reed is one that someone in the Houston Rockets front office got right.
Someone in the Lakers office might have had a little bit of pressure from a certain source, namely Lebron James.
With the 55th pick in the second round, Los Angeles chose Bronny James, who averaged 4.8 points per game.
Meanwhile, Kentucky’s Tre Mitchell went undrafted averaging 10.7 points per game and 7.2 rebounds despite being injured for a portion of the season.
But the feat that Lebron James has accomplished is amazing. Not only playing but competing long enough in the NBA to play alongside his son is astronomical.
Being one of the top three players ever to play the game of basketball also puts a target on your back.
One can disagree with Lebron all they want. But the man has provided some of the best entertainment that the NBA has ever witnessed.
He will go down as one of the greatest of all time alongside Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
We will spend the rest of our lives arguing who the GOAT is.
Jordan ruled the late 80s and early 90s. Kobe dominated shortly after in the 2000s.
Then came King James from Akron, Ohio.
James was being drafted in 2003 by the Cavaliers when Outkast was No. 1 on the charts shaking it like a Polaroid picture with “Hey Ya.”
Bronny was drafted with Sabrina Carpenter at No. 1. She was 4-years-old when Lebron began playing in the NBA.
Love Lebron or hate him all you like. But what he’s accomplished deserves respect.
One can hope that Bronny continues to work on his game.
And let us remember it is not always what is done on the court that makes someone a good player or teammate, but off the court as well.
Brittni McCoy is the Mountain Citizen sports editor.