LeBron “Bronny” James Jr. is taking his talents to Los Angeles, where he may make history alongside his father.
Bronny, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, was drafted by the Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday after going unselected in the first round. If the two take the court together, it will mark the first time a father and son have played together in NBA history.
The 6-foot-3 guard from the University of Southern California has been a major topic of discussion in this draft. While much of the buzz surrounds his famous last name, Bronny’s game has steadily developed over the years to prepare him for this moment.
Yahoo Sports NBA draft analyst Krysten Peek projected that James would be taken with the 55th overall selection by the Lakers, stating, “James is far from a finished product but proved he belonged in this draft class as a prospect at the draft combine, where he shot the ball well and showed more scoring potential in the lane with his floater.”
Bronny, 19, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game in his lone season at USC. He joined the Trojans midseason after being sidelined for nearly five months while recovering from a cardiac arrest episode that required surgery to treat a congenital heart defect. Combined with a Trojans squad that underachieved, it’s clear that Bronny’s first and only season in college didn’t go as planned.
Bronny’s path to the NBA has been starkly different from his father’s. LeBron James Sr. was a highly-touted prospect who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft straight out of high school. Bronny, on the other hand, has had to navigate the complexities of college basketball and personal health issues, which have shaped his journey in unique ways.
