It’s formally Showtime for LeBron James’ son.
Bronny James was drafted Thursday by his dad’s staff, the Lakers, with the fifty fifth decide of the second spherical of the NBA Draft.
The transfer follows months of debate and hypothesis about the potential of Bronny teaming up with the 39-year-old LeBron — a 20-time All-Star and the league’s all-time scoring chief — in Los Angeles.
The well-known scion departed USC following his freshman season, and they’d turn into the primary father-son duo to play collectively in NBA historical past.
“I simply need to … have folks know my title is Bronny James and never be recognized as simply LeBron James’ son,” Bronny James, who didn’t attend the draft, stated final month on the league’s scouting mix. “I’d be joyful about attending to the league as a substitute of me eager about taking part in with my dad. However that’s not my mindset in any respect. I’m simply making an attempt to place within the work and see the place it takes me.
“My dream has all the time simply been to place my title out, make a reputation for myself.”
ESPN analyst Bob Myers, the previous Warriors GM, stated throughout the community’s draft protection that the James camp warned different groups to not draft {the teenager}.
“Wealthy Paul is looking groups, ‘Don’t take Bronny James,’” Myers stated, referring to the Klutch Sports activities Group agent for the father-son duo. “He’s telling them, ‘Don’t take him. Should you take him, he’s going to Australia.’ So he has a plan and he has a spot.”
LeBron James’ deadline to opt-in on his $51.4 million contract choice for 2024-25 is Saturday. The four-time MVP and Paul had backtracked just lately from earlier feedback relating to the will to play collectively on the NBA stage.
Paul additionally stated just lately that the household doesn’t plan to entertain two-way presents for the 6-2 guard, as a substitute searching for an NBA deal.
Paul advised ESPN the objective was to “discover a staff that values your man and attempt to push him to get there … Particularly these in want of improvement like Bronny.”
Nonetheless, the youthful James, who averaged 4.8 factors in 36.6 p.c taking pictures in 25 video games for the Trojans, solely labored out individually for the Lakers and the Suns within the lead-up to the draft.
One scout advised The Submit final week that Bronny James is “essentially sound and performs the proper approach with an enhancing ability set and willingness to defend.”
However an NBA govt stated that he wouldn’t even be talked about “if his title was Joe Thomas.”
Bronny James’ restricted faculty profession additionally was delayed till December when he suffered cardiac arrest — attributable to a congenital coronary heart defect — throughout exercises final summer time.
However he loved a powerful exhibiting on the mix, ending third in 3-point taking pictures drill and sixth with a vertical leap of 40.5 inches.