NBA Draft 2024: Bronny James Finally Drafted, To Play with Dad LeBron James in the Los Angeles Lakers
After not being drafted at all during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, USCLA star Bronny James has finally been drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. This means that LeBron James will be staying with the Lakers to play with his son, making them the first father-son duo to play in the same team at the same time.
LeBron James has said publicly that before he retires, he wants to play on the same team with his son, Bronny. With JJ Reddick as coach, "King James" finally got what he wanted as the Lakers picked Bronny at #55. The pick also assures the Lakers that their superstar is indeed staying with the team.
As USA Today noted, the 19-year-old Bronny James has been on the public eye his entire life, as LeBron James has been one of the most famous basketball players on the planet even before he was born. LeBron has also been very public about his private life and is proud of his son and has been celebrating Bronny trying to follow in his footsteps.
While Bronny has been a 2022-23 McDonald's High School All-American, his future in the NBA was called into question when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a workout on the USC campus. He was hospitalized and had to undergo treatment, leading to a discovery that showed he has a congenital heart defect.
Despite this, doctors still cleared him to play for USC, and he was also deemed eligible by the NBA's Fitness to Play Panel for the Draft. However, his health woes may have helped lower his standing in the NBA Draft.
Young Bronny James is now expected to participate in the 2024 California Classic Summer League before suiting up for the Lakers in the Las Vegas Summer League, which is happening from July 12-22. After this, the Lakers would have to decide on his fate, though with LeBron's loyalty to the Lakers hanging in the balance, he may be staying.
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Bronny James Says He Is 'Beyond Blessed' After Being Drafted by the LA Lakers
Soon after being drafted as the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by his father's team, the Los Angeles Lakers, Bronny James took to social media, saying he's "beyond blessed" to play in the NBA alongside his superstar father, LeBron James.
According to Bleacher Report, as the Lakers' second-round NBA Draft pick was nearing, "it became increasingly evident they would use it to select James." This came after Bronny's agent, Rich Paul, called certain teams, telling them not to draft James and that if they did, he would go play in Australia.
Other Second-Round NBA Draft 2024 Picks That Are Not Bronny James
The 55th pick was certainly the most headline-grabbing pick for the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, but other notable players were also picked to play in the NBA, including 6' 8" forward Jonathan Mogbo, who will be playing for the Toronto Raptors as the 31st pick. He was described as a "walking double-double" who averaged 14.2 points and 10.1 rebounds at San Francisco.
Meanwhile, another big name snubbed during the first round was Duke's Kyle Filipkowski. The 7-footer has been picked for the #32 slot for the Utah Jazz. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks select Tyler Smith at No. 33, and the New York Knicks used the Blazers pick from a trade to select Tyler Kolek at No. 34.
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Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: The Los Angeles Lakers select Bronny James with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft | NBA on ESPN