Lakers Select Bronny James in Second Round, Teaming Him Up with LeBron James
The selection means LeBron James and Bronny James could become the first father and son duo to play in the same NBA game.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James with the 55th pick in the NBA draft on Thursday, marking a significant step toward Lakers star LeBron James’s dream of playing alongside his eldest son in the NBA.
Bronny James, 19, who played one season at the University of Southern California, was chosen in the second round after overcoming a sudden cardiac arrest during a practice with the Trojans in July 2023. Following the incident, his family announced he would return to basketball after consulting with doctors, and he debuted for USC in December.
The NBA’s first-ever two-day draft was held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for the first round and an ESPN studio in Manhattan for the second round. Although the James family was in New York City for draft week, Bronny did not attend the ceremonies or participate in media interviews. At a private gathering with friends and family, Bronny donned a Lakers hat given to him by his mother, Savannah James, while holding back tears. ESPN commentator Bob Myers mentioned that Bronny’s agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, had coordinated to ensure Bronny landed with the Lakers.
“Rich Paul is calling teams [and saying] don’t take Bronny James,” Myers reported during the second round. “[Paul] is saying, ‘If you take him, he’s going to Australia.’” LeBron James, 39, has long aspired to play with Bronny, similar to MLB’s Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who were teammates with the Seattle Mariners in 1990 and 1991. LeBron has been a constant presence at his son’s USC, high school, and AAU games.
“There’s no better feeling in the world than being around raising my boys to MEN,” LeBron James wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of him playing basketball with Bronny and his younger son Bryce, 17. “Pops getting emotional just thinking about your journey so far! Thank you both for allowing me to be your DAD and guide you through life’s trials and tribulations!” After the draft, LeBron shared a Nike ad on Instagram featuring Bronny with the tagline: “Pressure was never a question … when passion has always been the answer.”
If LeBron and Bronny play together for the Lakers, they will become the first father-son duo in NBA history to do so.
“When I think about the Los Angeles Lakers, I think about a franchise where basketball history unfolds,” Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka said during a news conference. “In NBA history, there’s never been a father and a son sharing the court. That could be magical.” Pelinka also noted that Bronny had a “great” pre-draft workout with the Lakers and that they spent an hour getting to know each other during lunch at the team’s facility.