NBA legend, LeBron James, and his son, Bronny, have made history by becoming the first family to play in the league simultaneously.
The Lakers selected Bronny with the 55th pick in the second round of the NBA Draft on Thursday, playing alongside his father.
“Beyond blessed,” Bronny James expressed in an Instagram post following the announcement.
The James family, gathered at an intimate dinner party in New York, celebrated the momentous occasion. LeBron led a champagne toast, reflecting on the significance of the moment.
“In the history of the NBA, there’s never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court and that feels like something that could be magical,” said Lakers Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, Rob Pelinka.
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Bronny, 19, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game during his single season at USC, recovering from a cardiac arrest episode that required surgery.
Medically cleared by the NBA’s Fitness to Play Panel, Bronny showed impressive performance in agility and 3-point shooting drills at the draft combine.
The Lakers are keen to retain LeBron for his 22nd season, with sources indicating a willingness to offer a maximum three-year, $162 million deal. LeBron has until Saturday to opt into the final year of his contract.
Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis praised Bronny’s defensive skills and playmaking ability. “He’s very good defensively… I think he’s going to be fine,” Davis told ESPN.
The Lakers begin NBA Summer League play on July 12 in Las Vegas. Bronny aims to model his game after defensive players like Davion Mitchell and Jrue Holiday. Pelinka highlighted Bronny’s high character and work ethic, envisioning him as an elite 3-and-D player.
Bronny debuted for USC on December 10, a day after the Lakers won the In-Season Tournament championship, with Pelinka and the James family present to support him.
