LeBron “Bronny” James Jr. was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA draft as the team hopes to keep his father, LeBron James, on the roster.
The Lakers selected James Jr. less than a week after reports surfaced that James Sr. was expected to opt out of his contract and test free agency. The team also hired James Sr.’s friend and podcast co-host, former NBA player JJ Redick, as the next Lakers head coach earlier this week.
If James Sr. were to stay with the Lakers, it would be the first time in NBA history that a father and son play on the same team together.
According to former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers, James Jr.’s agent, Klutch Sports’s Rich Paul, was calling teams during the draft and telling them, “Don’t take Bronny James,” threatening that “if you take him, he’s going to Australia.”
After a less-than-stellar freshman season at the University of Southern California, where he averaged 4.8 points per game on 36.6% field goal percentage, 26.7% from three-point range, and 67.7% from the free-throw line, James Jr. chose to enter both the NBA draft and the NCAA transfer portal. The younger James had a sudden cardiac arrest last August before the season.
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James Sr.’s eldest son only worked out for two teams in the predraft process, the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. His agent, who also represents his father, said James Jr. would not sign a two-way contract, which would have allowed teams to split James Jr.’s time between the NBA and their developmental G-League affiliate.
The future Hall of Famer, James Sr., has until June 29 to decide whether to opt out of his contract or opt in and rejoin the Lakers alongside James Jr. and Redick. Even if he were to opt out, he could still re-sign with the Lakers on a longer-term deal, such as a three-year $162 million contract, which has been reported the Lakers would be willing to give him.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Paul, James Sr. and James Jr.’s agent, for comment.