CTTO/NBA.com
LeBron James’ long-held dream of playing in the NBA alongside his son took a significant step towards reality on Thursday. Bronny James, the oldest son of the NBA’s all-time scoring leader and four-time champion, was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. Selected with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, Bronny now has the chance to join his father’s team.
“Beyond blessed,” Bronny James shared in an Instagram post after the announcement.
The selection raises the intriguing possibility of an unprecedented father-son duo in the NBA. LeBron James, who can become a free agent next week, might opt to stay with the Lakers, making the historical pairing possible.
“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 Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka. “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.”
While Bronny’s draft doesn’t guarantee he will be on the Lakers’ roster next season or that the two will play together, it certainly opens the door for this historic event. In NBA history, around 100 players have followed their fathers into the league, but none have played simultaneously.
LeBron James’ exceptional longevity, entering his 22nd season and tying Vince Carter for the longest NBA career ever, makes the father-son duo a real possibility.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum made the moment official: “With the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select Bronny James from the University of Southern California.”
Bronny James, a 6-foot-1.5 guard known for his athleticism and defensive prowess, could potentially make his debut in a Lakers uniform on July 12 in Las Vegas during the summer league opener against the Houston Rockets.
“Bronny is, first and foremost, a person of high character,” Pelinka said. “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.”
Bronny played one year of college basketball at USC, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game last season. His season was marked by a medical challenge; he missed the start due to a congenital heart defect, which was discovered after he went into cardiac arrest during a summer workout. Cleared for NBA play last month by a panel of doctors, Bronny is now ready to take the next step in his basketball career.
Nike, a longtime business partner of LeBron James, quickly congratulated Bronny, releasing a new ad that read, “The journey continues. Welcome to the big stage, Bronny.”