LeBron James has long envisioned the possibility of playing in the NBA alongside one of his sons. That dream took a step closer to reality when his oldest son, Bronny James, was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, the team his father has been with since 2018.
Bronny James was selected as the 55th overall pick in the draft, which places him deep into the second round with just three picks remaining this year. “Beyond blessed,” Bronny James shared in an Instagram post following the announcement.
What adds intrigue to this move is LeBron James’ upcoming free agency decision next week, where he could potentially leave the Lakers and sign with another team.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka expressed excitement about the prospect of LeBron and Bronny making history as the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA. Pelinka acknowledged LeBron’s impending decision but remained optimistic about the potential milestone happening in a Lakers uniform.
While Bronny’s draft selection doesn’t guarantee immediate playing time alongside his father or even a spot on the Lakers’ roster next season, it opens up the exciting possibility of an unprecedented father-son partnership in the league.
In NBA history, there have been instances where players followed their fathers into the league, but always after a significant gap following the father’s retirement.
LeBron James’ exceptional career longevity, set to match Vince Carter’s record for the longest NBA career next season, makes this father-son duo during active play possible.
“With the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers chose Bronny James from the University of Southern California,” announced NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, confirming the moment for the 19-year-old, who was born just before his father’s second NBA season began.
There’s a chance Bronny James could make his debut in a Lakers jersey on July 12 in Las Vegas, when the team faces the Houston Rockets in their summer league opener.
Bronny James plays as a guard. He was listed as 6-foot-4 on Southern California’s team roster, but measurements at the draft combine showed him at 6 feet, 1 1/2 inches. This makes him one of the shorter players in the NBA, but his athleticism and defensive skills earned him this opportunity.
“First and foremost, Bronny is a person of great character,” said Pelinka. “Secondly, he’s a hard worker. These are the qualities we value in our draft picks and in adding to our Lakers development team.”
There may be criticisms of favoritism, suggesting the Lakers only picked Bronny James because of his father, LeBron James. However, Pelinka emphasized that the Lakers have a plan for Bronny’s growth, recognizing his potential, and he personally admires the character Bronny has shown over the years.
Pelinka and the Lakers’ staff, including new coach J.J. Redick, spoke with Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul before making the pick. They also had a chance to talk directly with Bronny James just before officially selecting him.
“Coach Redick and I welcomed him to the Lakers family and emphasized that this moment came because of his hard work and the kind of person he is,” Pelinka explained. “That’s what we conveyed to him during our conversation.”
Bronny James played one season of college basketball at USC and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
He appeared in 25 games, missing the beginning of the season due to a procedure for a congenital heart issue discovered after he experienced cardiac arrest during a summer workout.
A group of doctors cleared Bronny James to play in the NBA last month. Nike, the company LeBron James has partnered with throughout his NBA career, quickly congratulated Bronny James with a new ad: “The journey continues. Welcome to the big stage, Bronny.”
On the second day of the draft, 24 players were selected before Bronny James. However, none of them received nearly as much attention as the 55th pick did.
Historically, the 55th pick in the NBA draft rarely becomes a focal point. The most successful 55th pick to date is Patty Mills, currently with the Miami Heat, who has scored 7,893 points over his 15-year career.
Other notable 55th picks include Marc Iavaroni, Mark Blount, Kenny Gattison, and E’Twaun Moore. No 55th pick has ever been an NBA All-Star, All-NBA team member, All-Rookie team member, or All-Defensive team selection.
Last season’s 55th pick, Isaiah Wong, scored just two points for Indiana as a rookie. Collectively, all 55th picks in NBA history have scored 28,364 points combined — more than 12,000 points fewer than LeBron James has scored in his career.
“The Lakers are known for creating significant moments in sports,” said Pelinka. “That’s our legacy, and we’re eager to see how this story unfolds.”
