The Los Angeles Lakers select Bronny James with the 55th overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
• Download the NBA App | Draft Board
LeBron James can become teammates next season with his oldest son, Bronny, a dreamy development made possible by many collective efforts.
First, the other 29 teams had to curb any urge to select Bronny in the 2024 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, and all did.
Second, the Los Angeles Lakers, his father's team since 2018, had to make that choice at No. 55, which was the easiest decision of the entire draft.
Third, LeBron James needed to last 21 years in the league to make this possible, and he carried his end of the deal with amazing results.
Fourth, Bronny James had to play well enough to be worthy, which he did, as a lauded high school guard whose only college season was curtailed, to a degree, by a congenital heart defect.
The future regarding the father's durability and his son's ability will be determined soon enough. What is undeniable is this — LeBron James has the chance to share the same NBA court and uniform with his son and create a heartwarming moment, or several, for himself, his family and his fans.
They become the league's first active father and son duo, which represents a celebratory achievement in several ways. This has happened in other sports, most famously in baseball by Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr., along with Gordie Howe and sons in hockey.
In basketball, it will be the latest unprecedented feat involving LeBron, only much more personal.
"NBA history could be made next season, and should be made in a Lakers uniform," said Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.
Bronny, 19, starred at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles, then went to USC for the 2023 season. Before he played a college game, he suffered cardiac arrest, requiring a battery of medical tests. All results were met with the satisfaction of the James family, and Bronny completed a full freshman year.
His season at USC was underwhelming — 4.8 points, 36% shooting, 2.8 rebounds — but he chose to leave early anyway for the Draft. After showing promising results in the NBA Draft Combine with improved shooting, Bronny played his way up the scouting reports, which until then projected him to be bypassed altogether in the Draft.
He is 6-foot-2, with a jump shot that lacks consistency, but his passing, physical skills and basketball IQ are exemplary, according to scouts, which will help his adjustment to the NBA level. And, still a teenager, he's early in his basketball development.
He could begin the season in the NBA G League, or spend time there during the NBA season, as is the case with most second-round picks. At some point, however, the inevitable will happen next season for the James family and the Lakers.
"He is a person of high character and someone who works incredibly hard," said Pelinka. "He has the quality we look for in drafting players and adding to our development (program)."
Every other team guaranteed a father-son connection by refusing to interfere. Bronny was never considered a first-round talent because his season at USC was underwhelming. But once the second round began, a drip of drama was at least possible.
Maybe a team would force a trade, or hold the pick for ransom, knowing the Lakers had to take him?
The Indiana Pacers had three picks in the round. Each time, they passed in favor of Juan Nunez from Spain, then Tristen Newton from Connecticut, then Enrique Freeman from Akron (coincidently, the school located where LeBron and Bronny were born).
The Miami Heat, at 43, took Nikola Djurisic from Serbia … so much for a different sort of James-Heat union.
The crosstown LA Clippers? The team with Ty Lue, who coached LeBron to a championship in Cleveland who has known Bronny since childhood? They went with Cameron Christie from Minnesota, who is the brother of Lakers guard Max Christie, so there's that.
The Boston Celtics could've further cemented their place as the Lakers' most historically hated rival, but even rivals have a heart. At 54, one spot ahead of the Lakers, Boston took Anton Watson from Gonzaga.
Whether this was all an unspoken pledge, or a gentlemen's agreement, or perhaps due to some pleading by the Lakers and/or LeBron's camp, the rest of the league gave this moment its blessing.
And with that, the James family had reason to shed needless worry and a lot of happy tears.
* * *
Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.
Comments
Post a Comment