Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka says the prospect of LeBron and Bronny James lining up for the franchise next season is “magical”.
The Lakers selected Bronny with the 55th pick in the second round of the NBA draft and he now joins his father at the franchise.
It may be a short-lived union as LeBron has until 5pm ET tomorrow to opt into the final year of his Lakers contract. If he does, however, it raises the tantalising prospect of father and son competing for the same team next season – an NBA first.
“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,” Pelinka said.
“We know, and have to respect of course, that LeBron has a decision on his opt-out… but if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made. And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.”
Family business. pic.twitter.com/oBoVHA8doA
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 27, 2024
Bronny spent just one season at USC, joining the team midway through after undergoing surgery to correct a heart defect.
Pelinka added: “Bronny is, first and foremost, a person of high character.
“And second, he is a young man that works incredibly hard. Those are the qualities we look for in drafting players and adding to our developmental corps at the Lakers.”
Bronny’s signing has got the green light from one of the Lakers’ existing stars, Anthony Davis, who told ESPN: “He’s very good defensively.
“He can read the floor very well. I think he’s a really good playmaker. I saw him work out a couple times besides the [Klutch Sports] pro day and his reads, reading the defense, making the right passes, that was really impressive to me. I think he’s going to be fine, man. Obviously it’s a lot of pressure on him with his dad being who he is.
“But one thing about Bronny, from what I’ve seen and what I heard, he wants to create his own path and he doesn’t want to be – even though he’s LeBron James’ son, he don’t want be seen as that. And I think having that mindset and trying to create his own path is going to work out for him.
“Who knows, he might come in and be ready to play for us.”
