Whatever LeBron James wants, LeBron James gets. Including the exceedingly rare opportunity to compete alongside his son and newly-drafted Los Angeles Laker, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr, in the 2024-25 NBA season.
The 19-year-old basketball scion was selected by his 39-year-old father‘s team with the 55th overall picks (second round) in this year’s NBA draft. Effectively, they’ll make history as the league’s first-ever simultaneous father-son duo.
RELATED: The NBA’s Top Scorers Earn A Depressingly High Amount Of Money Per Point
This was, of course, always on the cards. Not only had Bronny James, a consensus four-star recruit from the University of Southern California, been projected to be picked around the 50s; but the longstanding contention was that whoever landed Bronny also secured LeBron.
According to ESPN’s Bob Myers, LeBron’s agent Rich Paul had apparently threatened other NBA teams with a crystal-clear ultimatum: Bronny would play overseas in Australia’s NBL if they attempted to stake a claim in him (so steer clear).
“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,” said Rob Pelinka, General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers.
“We know, and have to respect of course, that LeBron has a decision on his opt-out… but if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made. And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.”
For context, LeBron James has until the week’s end to opt into the final year of his Los Angeles Lakers contract, valued at US$51.4 million (AU$77.3 million) next season, or become an unrestricted free agent — with the signing of Bronny James, the recent hiring of his mate/podcast co-host JJ Reddick as Head Coach, and the alleged actions of Rich Paul, it seems the Lakers have all but assured the reigning GOAT‘s return.
Pelinka added: “Bronny is, first and foremost, a person of high character. And second, he is a young man that works incredibly hard. Those are the qualities we look for in drafting players and adding to our developmental corps at the Lakers.”
RELATED: Team USA Assembles “Avengers Of Basketball” For 2024 Olympics
In his lone season as a USC Trojan, and after being sidelined for the better half of a year while recovering from cardiac arrest, Bronny James averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 19.4 minutes per game.
With a highly-scrutinised game, a “lacking” physique by NBA standards, and an entire world of expectations to shoulder thanks to his generational talent of a father… suffice it to say, young Bronny has a lot of work to do. Perhaps in time, we might also see Bryce James rep the gold and purple.
