Bronny James says the opportunity to play professionally alongside his famous father did not influence his decision to enter the NBA draft.
The 19-year-old son of LeBron James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers, and Bronny believes he can handle the extra attention and pressure while the James family makes basketball history. “I’m … trying to get my name out for myself,” Bronny said. “I just want to come in, get my work in, and get better every day.”
The Lakers introduced Bronny and their first-round pick, Dalton Knecht, at a news conference at their training complex. Los Angeles selected Bronny with the 55th overall pick last week, creating the potential for an NBA first, as no father and son have ever played in the league at the same time, let alone on the same team.
“It’s for sure amplified the amount of pressure,” Bronny James said. “I’ve already seen it in [social] media and on the internet and stuff talking about [how] I might not deserve an opportunity. But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life. It’s more amplified for sure, but I can get through it.”
Bronny reiterated that he didn’t jump to the NBA just because his 39-year-old father is still an active player. He acknowledged he didn’t necessarily share his father’s dream of playing in the league together and knew he couldn’t control where he was drafted. Bronny is the oldest son of the NBA’s career scoring leader, LeBron James, who has spent the past six seasons with the Lakers and is likely to return to the team despite being a free agent after declining his $51.4 million player option for next season.
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LeBron James quietly watched his son’s introductory news conference from the back of the Lakers’ gym. Bronny said he’s better prepared for the challenges ahead of him because of “stuff that [LeBron] has been telling me my whole life. Just having that work ethic, and coming in and getting your work in, and listening to your coaches and being coachable, stuff like that he’s driven into my head my whole life.”
Bronny deftly answered questions about everything he’ll face after jumping straight to the NBA from one short season of college basketball. He played inconsistently last winter at USC after recovering from a frightening cardiac event in July 2023.
“The time that I had off, I feel like I could have been perfecting my game more,” Bronny said. “I just feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to showcase what I can really do, because I wasn’t given that much of an opportunity at S.C. So I’m excited for what it’s going to be.”
Rather than spending another year in college, Bronny said he expects to improve his game in the Lakers’ player development system under new coach JJ Redick, who emphasized the necessity of developing talent from within the organization after general manager Rob Pelinka hired him last month.
“Rob and I did not give Bronny anything,” Redick said. “Bronny has earned this through hard work. For us, prioritizing player development, we view Bronny as Case Study 1, because his base level of feel, athleticism, point-of-attack defender, shooting, passing, there’s a lot to like about his game. As we build out our player development program holistically, he’s going to have the opportunity to be an excellent NBA player.”
Bronny James and Knecht both expect to play for the Lakers’ summer league teams in Sacramento and Las Vegas this month.
LeBron and Bronny James are likely to join a short list of fathers and sons who have played together in North American professional sports, including Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. with the Seattle Mariners, and Gordie Howe with his sons Marty and Mark with the WHA’s Houston Aeros and the NHL’s Hartford Whalers.