June 28, (THEWILL) – In a historic move for the National Basketball Association (NBA), Bronny James has joined his father, LeBron, at the Los Angeles Lakers. The 19-year-old was selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, marking the first time a father-son duo will potentially play together in the league.
Lakers General Manager, Rob Pelinka, personally informed Bronny of his selection as the 55th pick. This decision brings LeBron, now 39, closer to realising his long-held ambition of sharing the court with his son. Whilst Bronny is not expected to play significant minutes in his rookie season, the prospect of the James family appearing together on an NBA court is eagerly anticipated by fans.
Bronny’s journey to the NBA has been closely watched since his high school days at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles. Despite facing a setback last summer when he suffered a cardiac arrest during training with the University of Southern California (USC) basketball team, Bronny made a comeback. He was cleared to return to the team in November and completed his lone season with the Trojans, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game as a guard.
The selection of Bronny by the Lakers was not without its tensions. There were concerns that another team might draft him earlier, either to entice LeBron to switch teams or to disrupt the Lakers’ plans. However, such a move would have risked antagonising Rich Paul, the influential NBA agent who represents both Bronny and LeBron, along with many other top-tier players.
As LeBron, the league’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time champion, enters his 22nd season, the Lakers face significant challenges in the competitive Western Conference. With first-time head coach JJ Redick at the helm, the team will be looking to improve on their performance from the previous season, where they were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Fans may get their first glimpse of Bronny in a Lakers uniform when the NBA’s Summer League begins in Las Vegas on July 12.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
