LeBron James, entering his 22nd season in the NBA, has made it clear that he feels there’s nothing left for him to prove on the basketball court. With four NBA championships, four MVP awards, and the title of the league’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron sees anything else as “extra credit.”
However, despite his monumental accomplishments, this Lakers season may offer him a new and unique challenge: competing against his son, Bronny James, who has joined the Lakers as a 19-year-old rookie. This father-son dynamic is adding an intriguing element to training camp, as the two are now teammates and adversaries in practice.
During the second day of training camp, Bronny, a promising rookie, displayed impressive skills that put his father to the test. Anthony Davis, LeBron’s teammate, witnessed Bronny hitting a three-pointer over LeBron, which led to LeBron ramping up his game in response.
Davis recounted how the competition between father and son was palpable, with LeBron retaliating by bullying a defender to score a layup and Bronny answering with another three-pointer. Despite not directly guarding each other, the competitive spirit was evident, and the intensity was high, much to the delight of teammates and onlookers.
Earlier in the offseason, the two had faced off in a pickup game at the Lakers’ practice facility, where LeBron scored a move along the baseline against Bronny. However, Bronny contested the play, claiming that LeBron’s foot had stepped out of bounds, thus negating the basket.
LeBron, acknowledging his son’s observation, agreed that he might have stepped out and humorously conceded that “it’s always better offense by me.” This exchange highlighted their mutual respect, even amid the competitive rivalry, with Bronny showing defensive pride and LeBron embracing his role as the seasoned veteran.
As training camp progressed, reporters noted the father-son duo working together on shooting drills after practice, with Bronny holding his own in the sessions. The Lakers’ preseason is set to begin with a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and fans are eager to see when LeBron and Bronny will finally share the court during a regular-season game. While it’s uncertain when this moment will come, the anticipation surrounding their potential on-court partnership or rivalry is already building.
Lakers coach JJ Redick has also been impressed by Bronny’s work ethic and performance. During Day 1 of camp, the rookie was noted for running the furthest of any player on the team, clocking in at six miles, as tracked by the player-monitoring system.
Redick was quick to point out Bronny’s stamina, and even joked with him before practice about his impressive output. As the camp continues, the competition between father and son, coupled with Bronny’s solid performance and LeBron’s veteran leadership, is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing storylines of the Lakers’ season.
