What we heard at the NBA combine, including Bronny James on his future and Terrence Shannon Jr. addressing his arrest

CHICAGO — All eyes were on Bronny James this week in Chicago as the son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James showed out at the NBA combine at Wintrust Arena.

James isn’t projected to be picked in the first round of the NBA draft. In fact, most mock drafts place him deep in the second round. But the eagerness of his father — a four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion — to play at least one season with his son has brought heightened attention to the 19-year-old’s future despite playing only 25 games as a freshman at USC last season.

For Bronny, the NBA dream is a little bit different.

“My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself and of course get to the NBA,” James said this week. “I never thought about playing with my dad — but of course he’s brought it up a couple times.”

James is a different player from his father, flexing more of a three-and-D style of play. He had a solid outing during Monday’s drills, posting a 40-inch max vertical jump and going 19 for 25 to finish second in 3-point shooting.

Here’s what else we heard at the NBA combine.

Terrence Shannon Jr. addresses his pending court case

The combine was a crucial moment for the Illinois standout, who addressed the media for the first time since his arrest in December. He faces one count of rape or an alternative count of felony aggravated sexual battery and is accused of assaulting a woman at a bar in Lawrence, Kan., last fall.

Shannon was suspended by Illinois and missed six games but was reinstated to the team after receiving a temporary restraining order against the university.

Before his arrest, Shannon was projected as a first-round pick, and he lived up to those expectations on the court in his final year with Illinois, averaging 23 points, four rebounds and 2.3 assists. But his NBA prospects have severely shifted because of his looming court date on June 10 — 16 days before the draft. He did not participate in Monday’s drills or any five-on-five scrimmaging because of a strained hamstring.

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