Brony James, the 19-year-old son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, was selected 55th overall by the Lakers in the second round of the NBA draft on Thursday, establishing the first father-son combination in NBA history. It’s a dream come true for four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James, who said he’s dreamed of playing with his son for years. “Never in the history of the NBA has a father and son shared an NBA basketball court,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. “It seems like something that could be magical.”
LeBron, the 39-year-old Lakers playmaker and four-time NBA champion, will be busy with Team USA at the Paris Olympics next month while son Bronny is set to join the Lakers at the NBA Summer League Games in Las Vegas.
LeBron James posted the photo on Instagram with the one-word caption “Legacy!!!!!!” And a photo of himself with Brony as a kid, the two of them dunking, and another with father and son side by side in Lakers jerseys.
Briney James, a guard at the University of Southern California, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Trojans last season after a stellar high school career and impressed scouts at the NBA Combine.
During a practice session last July, James, a USC freshman, collapsed after going into cardiac arrest due to a congenital heart defect.
The teenager was released from the hospital days later and doctors cleared him to play in US college basketball and last month in the NBA.
“Congratulations to Bronnie James on being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers!” Lakers legend Magic Johnson. “It’s a historic moment…seeing Brony suit up for the @Lakers during Summer League in Vegas is must-see TV!”
The younger James is viewed as a top defensive prospect with elite athletic skills and a strong instinct for the game, but may need time to fully develop as an NBA player.
“We’re excited to see this story unfold,” said Pelinka, who said new Lakers coach JJ Redick is already planning to make Bronny better.
“We are honored to add him to our program,” Pelinka said. “Coach Redick is already excited to have a development plan around him to enhance his basketball skills and turn him into a player that we feel can impact and help this franchise.”
LeBron James has until Saturday to opt out of the final year of his Lakers contract or become a free agent, which could set up a new Lakers contract. Status gave him options should Brony end up elsewhere in the NBA.
“We know and have to respect that LeBron has made a decision about his opt-out and I’m sure he and his family will decide what to do there,” Pelinka said.
“If it works out that he’s on our team next season, history could be made — and NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.”
high character
The Lakers owned the fourth-to-last NBA draft pick and there was concern that other clubs might use a high pick for James, to see if they could make a trade deal with the Lakers for James or the pick.
ESPN reported agent Rich Paul cautioned clubs against picking up Broney, saying he would travel to Australia before working with some teams.
The Phoenix Suns, who did not own a second-round pick because of a free agency tampering violation, were the only team other than the Lakers to work out with Brony James before the draft.
Pelinka said character and work ethic are more important factors than pedigree for the Lakers.
“Brony is first and foremost a person of high character and second is a young man who works incredibly hard and those are the qualities we look for when drafting players and adding to our developmental core for the Lakers,” Pelinka said.
“In terms of his work ethic, I think we’ve all seen that live on as well. He’s not a guy who’s never taken shortcuts, or expected or deserved basketball opportunities. He’s worked for everything he’s gotten, including being elected today at age 55.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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