The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James, the eldest son of superstar LeBron James, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. This historic selection sets the stage for the possibility of the first father-son duo playing together in the league.
Bronny James, visibly emotional, reacted to the draft news with a heartfelt post on his Instagram story, saying, "Beyond blessed." The Lakers' Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, Rob Pelinka, praised the young player's character and work ethic. "Bronny is first and foremost a person of high character. And secondly, he's a young man who works incredibly hard," Pelinka said. "Those are the qualities we look for in drafting players and adding to our developmental core at the Lakers. He had a great draft workout with us where he displayed those qualities."
Bronny's journey to the NBA has been marked by significant challenges. In his lone season at the University of Southern California, he played in 25 games, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. His season was disrupted in July 2023 when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a basketball practice at USC. After undergoing a medical procedure to treat a congenital heart defect, he missed the first eight games of the season but made a strong comeback.
Despite these hurdles, Bronny's high school career at Sierra Canyon was distinguished by accolades such as being named a 2022-23 McDonald's High School All-American and being ranked as the No. 20 prospect by ESPN in the Class of 2023. His resilience and determination have been evident throughout his career, traits that have undoubtedly contributed to his draft selection by the Lakers.
The anticipation surrounding Bronny's entry into the NBA is amplified by his father's expressed desire to play alongside him. LeBron James has been vocal about his dream to share the court with his son. "My last year will be played with my son," LeBron told The Athletic in 2022. "Wherever Bronny is at, that's where I'll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It's not about the money at that point."
LeBron James, who is potentially entering free agency this summer, has until Saturday to decide whether to take up his player option for over $51 million or opt out of his current Lakers contract. This decision is now intricately tied to his desire to play with Bronny, adding another layer of excitement and speculation to the upcoming NBA season.
The selection of Bronny James also carries significant emotional weight for the James family. Videos of Bronny's initial reaction to being drafted showed him trying to hold back tears as family and friends celebrated. His mother, Savannah, handed him a Lakers hat, and his younger brother, Bryce, expressed his joy with an enthusiastic "Yessir!" The elder LeBron James reportedly made a champagne toast, marking a very emotional moment for the family.
