Bronny James is set to join the Los Angeles Lakers and could team up with his father, LeBron James, next season. The Lakers picked Bronny in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, selecting him 55th overall on Thursday night.
“In the history of the NBA, there’s never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court and that feels like something that could be magical,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said afterward.
LeBron’s future with the Los Angeles Lakers remains uncertain as he can opt out of the final year of his contract, worth $51 million, to become a free agent this week. However, the Lakers can offer the four-time MVP a three-year maximum deal worth $161 million. With his son, Bronny, now on the team, staying with the Lakers might be too enticing for LeBron to pass up, according to Daily Mail.
“We know, and have to respect of course, that LeBron has a decision on his opt-out,” Pelinka said. “But if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made. And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.”
After weeks of speculation, Bronny was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft, defying predictions that ranged from a first-round pick to going undrafted. Bronny, who played for USC last season, had a challenging year. His college basketball season was marred by a cardiac arrest incident in July 2023.
Though he was cleared to play, he averaged only 19.4 minutes and 4.8 points per game over 25 games. Now, he will continue his basketball journey in Los Angeles with the Lakers. In the lead-up to this year’s draft, there was significant debate about Bronny’s readiness for the NBA.
Despite his limited college experience and stats, the Los Angeles Lakers selected the 19-year-old in the second round. Bronny, who was passed over in the first round, was seen in New York on Thursday wearing pink sneakers and a matching pullover. The Lakers decided they had seen enough potential to bring LeBron’s eldest son into their ranks.
Bronny hopes to join the ranks of sons who have played alongside their fathers in sports, such as Ken Griffey Jr. with Ken Griffey Sr. on the Seattle Mariners, and Mark and Marty Howe with their father Gordie on the Hartford Whalers.
While he has always been a visible part of LeBron’s world, alongside his mother Savannah and younger siblings Bryce and Zhuri, Bronny began attracting attention for his own skills in 2019.
This was when he enrolled at Sierra Canyon, playing alongside Zaire Wade, the son of his father’s former teammate, Dwyane Wade.
