The LeBron James-Bronny James pairing on the Los Angeles Lakers had been rumored for years.
In what became the worst-kept secret in basketball, the Lakers drafted Bronny in the Second Round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Despite an underwhelming season at USC which included a major health scare and inconsistent play, the Lakers opted to take James Jr. — presumably at the request of their current franchise player. Perhaps even more than at the request, it was to appease and cater to the guy they hope can bring them another NBA Championship.
This is truly a feel-good story at the core of it. LeBron came from nothing, and became a highly successful entrepreneur helping millions through charity work. He also has become one of the best players in the history of professional basketball. Being able to share the court with his son is truly a dream come true.
Here’s where things get tricky. Bronny is not a player without talent. He is decently athletic with nice form on his jumper and a reputation as a strong on-ball defender. However, in a disjointed year in college, he averaged only 4.8 PPG on 36.6 percent shooting from the field and a meager 26.7 percent from three.
Those numbers don’t scream ‘NBA Draft pick’ — especially after one year of college. If James didn’t have his famous surname or famed father, would he have gotten drafted? Most likely, no. This is where the interesting thing comes into play. There’s a world in which he one day does become a serviceable NBA player.
At this point, he’s yet to prove that. You’ve got to wonder if more worthy players — say…on the Lakers’ G-League affiliate — feel slighted by Bronny’s guaranteed contract/roster spot. Should he garner unwarranted playing time over other players simply for being LeBron’s son, this could cause some awkward and uncomfortable situations within the team dynamic.
We have no idea what JJ Redick’s plans are for Bronny. There’s a world where he toggles back and forth between the Lakers and the G-League, playing sparingly next to his dad. It will be fascinating to see, especially since this isn’t on the surface akin to a Ken Griffey Sr./Jr. situation where both ended up being All-Star-level talents. The distraction might end up being a real deterrent to the year if not handled properly.
