This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Charles Curtis.
The clock has started ticking on next year’s NBA Draft already.
And perhaps the most recognizable name who could be eligible in 2024 is going to be under a microscope for the next 365 days or so.
Bronny James, LeBron’s son, will play at USC this year, and as noted by our Bryan Kalbrosky in his first 2024 mock draft, the younger James is probably a player taken outside the lottery when it comes to skill level.
Here’s the thing and where it gets weird: If you’re a team that thinks it can get Bronny AND LeBron as a package deal — remember, LeBron has said he wants to play alongside Bronny — how high could Bronny go? And how bizarre is that to wrap your head around.
Also: What if he doesn’t play a ton at USC? And what if he does and isn’t that great?
We’ve seen plenty of kids of pro athletes get drafted. It’s super rare that they play with or against their dads (see: Griffey Jr. and Sr., Ken). And in this situation, LeBron is ACTIVELY saying out loud that he wants to play with Bronny.
So, yeah: This is all going to get weird quick. Enjoy the ride.
Quick Hits: NHL Draft grades … A perfect game!!! … and more.
— The 2023 NHL Draft first round was Thursday night. Here’s Mary Clarke’s grades for each pick and the winners and losers from the night.
— Holy cow, Domingo German threw a perfect game!!! That would be the 24th in MLB history, and here’s the list of every pitcher to do it.
— So much to say about the Fall Out Boy We Didn’t Start the Fire cover: As Christian D’Andrea wrote, it’s bad. They missed a bunch of big events and there were sports shoutouts aplenty. Fans are making memes out of it, of course.
