Bronny James was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA draft on Thursday, edging his father LeBron James nearer to his dream of playing alongside his son.
At 19, Bronny received the news via a phone call from Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka. LeBron, emotional upon hearing the news, celebrated with a champagne toast among family and friends at a New York restaurant, ESPN reported.
Bronny and LeBron are set to make history as the first father-son duo to play simultaneously in the NBA and on the same team. Although Bronny is not expected to play significant minutes in his rookie season, the moment they share the court will undoubtedly be special.
The Lakers celebrated the news with a social media post on X, showcasing old and recent photos of Bronny and LeBron, captioned “Family business.” Bronny also shared his excitement on Instagram, posting a photo in a Lakers jersey. Lakers legend Magic Johnson congratulated Bronny, calling his selection at the 55th pick a “historic moment” on X.
LeBron was 19 and the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year when Bronny was born in 2004 in Akron, Ohio. Bronny drew significant attention as a high school player at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles, where he played alongside his younger brother Bryce, who also has NBA potential.
Last summer, Bronny experienced a cardiac arrest while training with the University of Southern California (USC) basketball team, requiring intensive care. He was cleared to return in November and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in his only season with the Trojans.
There was speculation that another team might draft Bronny earlier to attract LeBron or disrupt the Lakers’ plans, but this would have risked upsetting Rich Paul, the influential NBA agent representing Bronny, LeBron, and other top players.
LeBron, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time champion, turns 40 in December as he enters his 22nd season. The Lakers, who were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs in April, face a challenging season in the competitive Western Conference under first-time head coach JJ Redick.
Fans are eager to see Bronny in action when the NBA’s Summer League begins in Las Vegas on July 12. “Watching Bronny suit up for the Lakers during Summer League in Vegas will be must-see TV!” Johnson wrote on X.
