As expected, the Los Angeles Lakers selected LeBron James’ eldest son, Bronny, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka said, “First and foremost, Bronny is a man of great character, and he’s also an incredibly hardworking young man. These are qualities we value when selecting players and adding them to our developmental roster.”
“In the history of the NBA, there has never been a father-son duo sharing the same court. It would be magical. We understand, of course, and respect LeBron’s choice… But if he joins our team next season, NBA history will be made. That history should be written in a Lakers uniform.”
Actually, Bronny had better options than the 55th pick. A week prior, his agent Rich Paul mentioned that, besides the Suns and Lakers, other teams, like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, and Toronto Raptors, were interested in Bronny, with many executives being close friends of LeBron.
Paul said, “The Timberwolves were eager for Bronny. If the Lakers didn’t take him at 55, the Mavericks would’ve picked him at 58 with a guaranteed contract. The Raptors really liked him; they could’ve taken him as high as 31. For these teams, the workout wasn’t a factor.” Nonetheless, he chose the Lakers or simply allowed them to “steal” him. Apparently, before the second round of the draft began, Paul called each team holding a pick, suggesting they not select Bronny. He stated that if any team did, Bronny wouldn’t report and would instead play in Australia.
Thus, Bronny fell to the 55th pick, a spot close to going undrafted. So, was he truly drafted due to his father’s influence? Renowned sports journalist Adrian Wojnarowski dismissed the notion of nepotism immediately after Bronny’s selection. He publicly commented on a show, “I don’t want to hear that noise, the talk about favoritism, about how the NBA is filled with nepotism, with owners, front offices, and coaches. I don’t want to hear that because LeBron James’ son plays for the Lakers. That’s not the narrative here.”
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and while there are detractors, let’s consider some objective data from Bronny’s workouts. His athletic measurements were impressive: standing approximately 6 feet 2 inches (1.87 meters) without shoes, weighing around 210 pounds (95 kg), with a wingspan of roughly 6 feet 3 inches (2.01 meters), and a standing reach of 8 feet 6 inches (2.5 meters). His max vertical leap measured 40.5 inches (102.87 cm), ranking fourth among all prospects. During the NBA Combine, he hit 19 out of 25 three-pointers on the move, once making 12 in a row without a miss, placing second in three-point shooting behind Alex Karaban among all prospects.
Defensively, Anthony Davis, who observed Bronny’s training, gave him credit, albeit partially subjectively. He said, “His defense is outstanding. He has great game awareness. I think he’s a very talented player. I’ve seen him train a few times with bigs – his game IQ, defensive IQ, timing – it’s really impressive. Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure on him because of his father.”
“But one thing about Bronny, from what I’ve seen and heard, he wants to make his own path. He doesn’t want to be – even though he’s LeBron James’ son – he doesn’t want to be seen as getting everything because he’s LeBron James’ son. I think having that mindset and working to forge his own path is something that can work for him… Who knows, he might come in ready to play for us.”
Many NBA stars have hoped their children would enter the league, exerting considerable effort, and their kids often possess solid talent and connections. For example, Shaquille O’Neal’s son, Shareef O’Neal, at 24 and standing 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters), played in the 2022 NBA Summer League for the Lakers and the G League Ignite. While he displayed potential, he hasn’t landed a formal NBA contract yet.
Another example is Dwyane Wade’s son, Zaire Wade, whose father is a minority owner of the Utah Jazz. In 2021, he joined the NBA G League, playing for the Salt Lake City Stars, an affiliate of the Jazz. This provided him a platform to showcase his skills but hasn’t resulted in an NBA appearance.
On a grander scale, no one in basketball circles surpasses Michael Jordan in terms of fame, but his sons haven’t succeeded in the NBA. Both Jeffrey Jordan and Marcus Jordan, who played college basketball, failed to make it to the NBA. In conclusion, Bronny’s entry into the NBA is a testament to his individual efforts and recognition of his basketball talent. As LeBron James’ son, he carries the family’s legacy and pursues his own basketball dreams. Expect Bronny to prove his worth on the NBA court and continue the James family’s basketball saga.