A dream that LeBron James first mentioned years ago – playing alongside one of his sons in the NBA – is inching closer to reality. Bronny James, the eldest son of the NBA’s all-time scoring leader and four-time champion, was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, the team his father has played for since 2018. Bronny James was selected with the No. 55 overall pick in the second round, adding an intriguing twist to the situation. LeBron James can become a free agent next week, potentially leaving the Lakers to sign with another team.
While the draft pick doesn’t guarantee that father and son will play together, it opens the possibility of an NBA first – a father-son duo playing simultaneously in the league. Throughout NBA history, about 100 players have joined the league after their fathers played, but always at least five years after the father’s career ended. However, LeBron James’ remarkable longevity, entering his 22nd season and matching Vince Carter for the longest NBA career ever, makes this father-son duo a realistic possibility.
Bronny James, a guard who played one year at the University of Southern California, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game last season. He missed the start of the season after a procedure to fix a congenital heart defect, diagnosed after a cardiac arrest during a summer workout. Last month, a panel of doctors cleared Bronny James for NBA play.
The 55th pick in the draft rarely attracts much attention, but Bronny James’ selection generated significant buzz. The best No. 55 pick in NBA history is Miami Heat guard Patty Mills, who has scored 7,893 points in 15 seasons. Other notable 55th picks include Marc Iavaroni, Mark Blount, Kenny Gattison, and E’Twaun Moore. No player picked at No. 55 has ever been an NBA All-Star, an All-NBA player, an All-Rookie team player, or an All-Defensive team pick. Last year’s No. 55 pick, Isaiah Wong, scored only two points as a rookie for Indiana.
The potential for LeBron and Bronny James to play together in the NBA is a captivating prospect for fans and the league. It remains to be seen if this dream will become a reality, but the possibility is undoubtedly exciting.
