When the Lakers selected Bronny James, LeBron James’ older son, with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on June 27, it ignited the basketball world.
Numerous NBA teammates and contemporaries of James responded to the news on social media. Steph Curry, who has faced “The King” four times in the NBA Finals, re-posted a photo of a younger Bronny and his father enjoying a bench moment in the 2010s, when the latter was a player for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Former James teammate Dwyane Wade called the Lakers’ selection of Bronny “one of the dopest moments” in NBA history.
Wade, one of James’ closest pals in real life, has guided Bronny during his formative years as a basketball player. In response to Bronny’s high school antics at Sierra Canyon in 2021, Wade called him “a complete basketball player.”
James and Bronny were about to become the first father-son team to share a locker room in the NBA, according to Lakers great Magic Johnson. Johnson believed that watching Bronny play for the Lakers in the NBA Summer League in 2024 would be an incredible experience. The competition begins on July 6, 2024.
Embracing Bronny James, LakersA large number of Bronny’s prospective Lakers teammates were ecstatic for the 19-year-old to realize his long-held goal of becoming an NBA player.
Three Lakers players with contracts for the 2024–25 season—Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Christian Wood—shared their thoughts on social media.
In the Lakers’ war room, even head coach JJ Redick looked happy, only moments after the team picked Bronny with the No. 55 pick on June 27.
Lakers front-office director Rob Pelinka stated that Redick was eager to fully realize Bronny’s potential. Pelinka stated in a post-draft interview with Spectrum SportsNet that Redick thinks Bronny is capable of become an NBA “elite two-way player.”
Pelinka described Bronny as a “young man of high character and extraordinary work ethic.” “And when you create a culture, those are the fundamental elements. The development can occur if you can locate young players who are constructed on those pillars.
Furthermore, I am aware that JJ Redick and his team have already begun to formulate a strategy for turning Bronny into a premier two-way player. Since he’s only 19, everyone must have patience. However, the groundwork is in place for him to play a significant role for many years to come.
Lakers Keep Up Their Honoring of History
The Lakers, one of the most storied teams in sports, have always been drawn to the prospect of creating history. In light of this, the Purple & Gold were unwilling to give up the opportunity to be the first team to have a father-son combination on the same squad. Pelinka discussed the historical significance of selecting Bronny in the NBA Draft when it was held on June 27.
Pelinka told the media, “It feels like something that could be magical because there has never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court in the history of the league.” “We understand and must respect LeBron’s choice to opt out, but if things worked out and he ended up joining our club the following season, NBA history might be made. And in a Lakers uniform, history should be made in the NBA.
As Pelinka noted, as of June 28, the elder James had not decided whether or not to stay with the Lakers. Despite this, it was generally anticipated that he would sign a new deal to conclude his legendary career with the Lakers.