LeBron was emotional after his son got drafted.
Here’s what the elder James had to say about the selection, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“[He] got very emotional considering the weight of the moment… Not just the history for the NBA… The journey for his [son].” Dave McMenamin on LeBron James’ reaction after Bronny was drafted to the Lakers 🙌 (via @ESPNNBA)
“He got very emotional considering the weight of the moment,” McMenamin said on ESPN. “Not just the history for the NBA, the first time you have a father-son duo playing together, not just the history for the James family, being that father-son duo, but really the journey for Bronny James.”
The Jameses were all together at what McMenamin described as an “intimate dinner” in New York City while they waited to see if Bronny would get drafted at any point in the second round.
While the general consensus may have been that Bronny joining his father on the Lakers was a foregone conclusion, it still must have been a relief for the James family to finally hear Bronny’s name called.
Bronny’s lone season in college at USC didn’t necessarily go as planned. Before the season even started, he had a cardiac episode at a summer practice that put his future in basketball into question. Then, once he was cleared to return, he wasn’t a consistent contributor at USC, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 26.7% from three in just 19.3 minutes per game.
Bronny James joins father LeBron on Lakers
Despite his up-and-down season at USC, Bronny was able to show enough to scouts during the lead-up to the NBA Draft to show that he was worth taking a flier on.
The former USC guard is considered to have elite defensive tools, and scouts believe that his ability on that end of the court along with his high basketball IQ will be his calling card in the NBA. If he is able to develop more of a consistent three-point shot, he could find success as a three-and-D role player.
However, right now, it’s difficult to imagine Bronny playing meaningful minutes alongside his father on a Lakers team that is looking to compete for an NBA championship in 2025.
Regardless of how much playing time Bronny gets, getting drafted is still a massive accomplishment for Bronny and the James family.
It will be a must-watch moment when LeBron and Bronny finally share the court.
