LeBron James took another step toward fulfilling his dream of playing alongside one of his sons after the LA Lakers selected 19-year-old Bronny in the NBA Draft on Thursday.
After going undrafted in the first round on Wednesday, the eldest son of the four-time NBA MVP was selected 55th overall by the Lakers toward the end of the second round of the 2024 draft.
The Lakers’ selection creates the first father-son duo in NBA history.
Bronny, a guard, played 25 games at Southern California after suffering cardiac arrest during a summer workout last July. He was considered a fringe second-round pick and was expected to join his future Hall of Fame father in Los Angeles after having private workouts only with the Lakers and Phoenix Suns before the draft.
LeBron worked out with Bronny on Wednesday before watching the first round of the draft, which consisted of 30 total picks. The Lakers also selected Tennessee All-American Dalton Knecht with the 17th overall pick.
In a statement, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said: “In NBA history, there has never been a father and son who have shared an NBA basketball court and that feels like something that could be magical.
The Lakers are waiting for LeBron to decide his plans for next season. The deadline to exercise his player option with the Lakers is Saturday, and James is expected to opt out of the deal and become a free agent before signing a short-term contract for his 22nd NBA season.
Pelinka added: “We know, and of course we must respect, that LeBron has a decision about his resignation… but if it turns out that he is on our team next season, history could be written in the NBA. And NBA history should be written in the Lakers uniform.”
The Lakers superstars endorsed Bronny’s choice. “He’s very good on defense,” Anthony Davis said. “He can read the court very well. I think he is a very good playmaker.”
“I watched him practice a couple of times. His reads, reading the defense, making the right passes, that was really impressive to me. I think he’s going to be fine. Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure on him with his dad being who he is. “
There were questions about Bronny James’ readiness for the NBA after his cardiac episode and subsequent unspectacular season at USC. He averaged 4.8 points per game in 2023-24. His medical condition, his modest production and his height (less than six feet, two inches) complicate his draft grade.
But he shot very well in combine drills and posted a 40.5-inch vertical, indicating there is more than genetics to his skill set.
Represented by Klutch Sports and Rich Paul as his father, the agency made it clear before the draft that Bronny James and LeBron James do not plan to be a package deal.