Lakers choose Bronny James in NBA draft, workforce him with LeBron James
“There is not any feeling in [f—ing] The world is simply too good for me to be round elevating my kids into males.” LeBron James wrote on Wednesday Together with an Instagram photograph of him taking part in basketball together with his 17-year-old son Bryce and his son Bryce, “Pops right here getting so emotional simply occupied with your journey to this point! Thanks for letting me be your dad and being a part of your compass by means of life’s trials and tribulations!
The primary spherical of the draft occurred at Barclays Heart in Brooklyn on Wednesday, and the second spherical was held at ESPN’s Manhattan studio on Thursday. The James household traveled to New York Metropolis for draft week, however James didn’t attend the draft and was not obtainable for media interviews.
James’ agent, Klutch Sports activities CEO Wealthy Paul, has a “plan and a spot” to deliver his consumer to the Lakers, ESPN commentator Bob Myers stated on Thursday’s draft broadcast.
Wealthy Paul Calls Groups [and saying] “Do not take Bronny James,” Myers stated early within the second spherical.[Paul] “If I take it, it’ll go to Australia,” he says.
LeBron James, 39, has lengthy dreamed of turning into the basketball model of Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who had been teammates on the Seattle Mariners in Main League Baseball in 1990 and 1991. LeBron James has been an everyday at his son’s USC, highschool and AAU video games lately. If LeBron and Bronny James ever take the court docket collectively, they might turn out to be the primary father-son duo in NBA historical past to take action.
Bronny James, who first got here to nationwide consideration as a freshman at Sierra Canyon Faculty north of Los Angeles, has blossomed right into a four-star participant and one of many highest-paid athletes by identify, picture and likeness (NIL) resulting from his fame and big social media following.
On the court docket, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 4.8 factors, 2.8 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists in 25 video games for USC, and spent many of the season coming off the bench. James confirmed his capacity as a fringe defender, however he was not used as a major playmaker and shot simply 26.7 p.c of his three-pointers.
After the Trojans completed a disappointing 15-18 and failed to succeed in the NCAA match, coach Andy Enfield departed for Southern Methodist College and James declared his curiosity within the NBA draft and entered the NCAA switch portal. He later selected to stay within the draft and took part within the NCAA expertise scouting program in Chicago.
“I’ve had a yr crammed with some ups and downs but it surely has all added as much as development for me as a person, pupil and athlete,” James wrote on Instagram in April whereas asserting his departure from USC. “I’ve made the choice to enter the NBA Draft whereas sustaining my school eligibility, and I can even enter the NCAA switch portal. Thanks to USC for an excellent New Yr, and as at all times, thanks to my household, mates, docs, athletic trainers and followers for his or her help.”
LeBron James’ contract with the Lakers features a $54.1 million participant choice for the 2024-25 season, and he has till Saturday to determine whether or not to train it. The 21-year-old veteran is reportedly looking for a multi-year extension with the Lakers, who employed JJ Redick, James’ podcast co-host, as their coach this month.
“I will dedicate this season to Bronny due to the accident that occurred this summer season,” LeBron James stated final October. “It places the whole lot into perspective. It doesn’t matter what’s happening in your life on the time, the one factor that issues is your loved ones. To know what he is been by means of over the previous few months, it has been rather a lot. I can solely think about what it will need to have been like for him as a result of It was an excessive amount of for me and our household.
