LeBron James’ Son Bronny Drafted by LA Lakers.
Bronny James, son of NBA legend LeBron James, has been drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA draft. The 19-year-old was the 55th pick in New York on Thursday, setting up the possibility of playing alongside his father.
LeBron, 39, is likely entering the final year of his career and could become a free agent this summer by declining his $51.4 million (£40.6 million) player option. Despite this, he has previously expressed his desire to play his final season with his son, making the potential father-son pairing historic.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka commented, “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.”
Bronny has completed his first year of college basketball with the University of Southern California Trojans, where he averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 assists per game. Unlike his father, who is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer standing at 6ft 9in, Bronny is 6ft 1in and is more known for his defensive abilities.
Despite facing health challenges, including a cardiac arrest during training last July, Bronny was cleared to return to basketball last November. His path has been closely followed, given his father’s illustrious career and his own 7.7 million Instagram followers.
Bronny is not expected to play a major role for the Lakers in his rookie season, but the potential of appearing alongside his father is already drawing significant attention. Lakers star Anthony Davis praised Bronny’s defensive skills and playmaking ability, suggesting that he has a promising future.
Bronny’s college career may have been limited by health issues, but he showcased his potential at the 2024 draft combine, excelling in the three-point shooting contest and agility drills. While he may start with limited rotation minutes or even spend time in the G-League, the experience of playing with his father could provide invaluable growth.
This development adds another layer to the Lakers’ quest for their 18th championship, under the new guidance of head coach JJ Redick. The potential father-son duo on the court is set to be one of the most captivating stories of the upcoming NBA season.
