Get ready for a historic moment in NBA history! LeBron James and his son, Bronny, are poised to become the first father-son duo to play in the league simultaneously, adding a unique and exciting twist to the upcoming season. Bronny, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round, is already joining his father for voluntary offseason workouts, igniting anticipation for their on-court partnership.
While the Lakers haven’t set a specific date for the father-son duo’s debut, JJ Redick, the team’s head coach, and his staff are already planning and discussing the momentous occasion. Redick, along with general manager Rob Pelinka, expressed their excitement for the pairing, seeing only positive aspects in the unique dynamic.
Redick emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “We don’t have anything planned, per se, in terms of a commitment to do it this way.” He added, “We’ve obviously talked about it as a staff, and we’ve gotten into some specifics of what that might look like, but we haven’t committed to anything, and obviously there’s a discussion to be had once we’re all together, with Bronny and LeBron, too. They should be a part of that discussion as well.”
Pelinka, adding a humorous anecdote from a recent scrimmage, joked, “Maybe the challenge is on Bronny, when like in our pickup game, he got switched on to LeBron, and LeBron took him baseline, up and under off the glass. The words exchanged afterwards were probably more challenging than anything else.”
The Lakers haven’t revealed how long Bronny, who will turn 20 during training camp, will be on the NBA roster with his father, who turns 40 in December. While the front office hasn’t officially confirmed it, there’s a strong likelihood that Bronny will spend a significant portion of the upcoming season in the G League, focusing on developing his skills. This decision stems from his limited playing experience in his sole season at the University of Southern California, after recovering from cardiac arrest during an offseason workout.
Despite the limited experience, both Pelinka and Redick are confident in Bronny’s potential and see him as a valuable asset to the team. Redick shared, “Bronny, I feel very fortunate that I get to coach him, because he’s young and he’s hungry and he’s got a lot of inherent skill sets that we can really mold into a really good NBA player.” He continued, “On top of that, he’s a fantastic kid. He’s extremely coachable. He’s got the right spirit and energy every single day.”
LeBron James, after leading the U.S. to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, has been back in the gym for the past two weeks, preparing for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ front office hasn’t made any significant roster changes, mainly due to their top players’ contracts and the new league system that has made it harder for teams to make major upgrades.
As a result, the Lakers roster will largely remain the same group that reached the Western Conference finals in 2023 but finished eighth in the West last spring, losing to Denver in the first round. Despite having LeBron and Anthony Davis, two high-mileage veterans with a history of injury problems, the Lakers weren’t considered an elite team.
Pelinka, however, indicated an openness to trading their two tradeable first-round picks if the opportunity arises for a deal that would lead to “sustainable Lakers excellence.” He also mentioned the possibility of trading one pick for a “marginal upgrade, if we felt like it was the right thing to do.”
As training camp approaches, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Jalen Hood-Schifino are healthy and ready to go. However, Christian Wood will be re-evaluated in six weeks after undergoing left knee surgery. Additionally, Jarred Vanderbilt, the defensive wingman who played in only 29 games last season due to a foot injury, underwent successful procedures on both his feet during the offseason. While still recovering, Pelinka remains optimistic that Vanderbilt will be ready for opening night on October 22.
With the historic father-son duo set to grace the NBA court, the league and the Lakers fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming season. The anticipation for the James family’s presence on the court is palpable, and their unique dynamic will undoubtedly be a highlight of the season.
