Before Thursday, there had never been a father-son duo playing in the NBA at the same time. Now, the first father-son pair is set to be teammates after the Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James—the eldest son of LeBron James—with the 55th pick in the second round of the draft.
The James family received the news while gathered at an intimate dinner party in New York. LeBron’s mother, Gloria, and wife Savannah’s parents attended, along with some of Bronny’s closest friends and confidants. After the Lakers delivered their decision, LeBron led the group in a champagne toast to commemorate the occasion, feeling very emotional about the moment.
The Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations and general manager mentioned the historic significance of the father-son duo sharing an NBA court. He also acknowledged LeBron’s potential decision on his opt-out but highlighted the potential of making NBA history in a Lakers uniform.
Bronny, 19, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game in his lone season at USC. He joined the Trojans midseason after being sidelined for nearly five months while recovering from a cardiac arrest episode that required surgery to treat a congenital heart defect.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound guard was medically cleared to be drafted by the NBA’s Fitness to Play Panel on the eve of the draft combine last month. The former McDonald’s All-American saw his stock improve in Chicago during the combine, where he tested well in agility drills and finished as one of the top performers in the 3-point shooting drills.
The Lakers’ vice president praised Bronny’s high character and hard work, emphasizing these qualities as important for drafting players and adding to the developmental corps at the Lakers.
LeBron has until 5 p.m. ET Saturday to opt into the final year of his Lakers contract—worth $51.4 million for next season—or become an unrestricted free agent. The Lakers are focused on retaining LeBron James for his 22nd season and beyond, willing to offer the 39-year-old the maximum three-year, $162 million deal he is eligible for to keep him with the franchise.
Lakers All-Star big man Anthony Davis expressed his support for the team targeting Bronny, noting his defensive skills and playmaking ability. Davis observed Bronny’s ability to read the floor and make impressive passes, believing he would manage the pressure despite his father’s legacy.
The Lakers begin NBA Summer League play against the Houston Rockets on July 12 in Las Vegas. Bronny James will wear No. 9, the team announced.
During a pre-draft interview, Bronny said he hoped to model his game in the NBA after defensive-focused players such as Davion Mitchell, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White. The Lakers’ vice president believes Bronny will be a disruptive defender and an elite shotmaker, envisioning him as a strong 3-and-D player.
Bronny made his USC debut in an afternoon game on Dec. 10 against Long Beach State—the day after the Lakers won the In-Season Tournament championship over the Indiana Pacers in Las Vegas. The Lakers’ vice president arranged travel to be there in person and sat courtside just down the sideline from LeBron and Savannah.
