The Golden State Warriors were reportedly on the brink of drafting Bronny James as a ploy to lure LeBron James from the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to a surprising piece by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Warriors had set their sights on Bronny with the 52nd pick, hoping it would entice LeBron to join forces with Steph Curry in Golden State. The Warriors were all in, especially since they had previously attempted to trade for LeBron last season in a failed bid. But the Warriors abruptly pulled the plug on the plan when LeBron made it crystal clear that he wanted to stay in L.A. and play alongside his son.
“The Golden State Warriors, who had tried to trade for James last season, weighed whether to take Bronny at No. 52,” Shelburne explained in her report. “The Warriors liked Bronny’s skill set and had him on their draft board, sources said. Selecting him ahead of the Lakers, who held the 55th pick, would’ve been a shrewd move — perhaps even to entice James to sign there as a free agent. But ultimately, sources said, the Warriors opted to respect the wishes James had made clear, and the Lakers signaled they would grant.”
Former Warriors executive Bob Myers revealed that LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, also warned teams, saying, “Don’t take Bronny James.” He clarified that if they did, Bronny would be off to play basketball overseas.
Meanwhile, LeBron turned 39 just ahead of the 2024-2025 season, making him the oldest active player in the NBA for a second straight year. He has remained firm in his stance that he would not retire until getting the opportunity to play alongside Bronny, the first father-and-son duo to do so.
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