Lebron and Bronny James make history
By Diego Cerna – (sports@theaggie.org)
On Oct. 22, the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles to start off the 2024-25 National Basketball Association (NBA) season. Lakers forward Lebron James returned for his 22nd season in the NBA, tying with former NBA star Vince Carter for the second-most seasons played in the NBA and trailing George Blanda’s 26 seasons played.
However, this wasn’t just any typical NBA season opener. In the summer of 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Lebron James Jr., better known as “Bronny,” with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Bronny signed a four-year, two-way $7.9 million contract with the Lakers, allowing him to play games in both the NBA and the G-League, which is the official minor league under the NBA.
With four minutes to go in the second half of the Oct. 22 game, Lebron and Bronny subbed into the game together — both surprising the crowd and officially making history by becoming the first-ever father and son NBA duo to play on the same team.
This accomplishment not only highlights Bronny’s achievement of making the NBA but also showcases Lebron’s longevity in the league. The soon-to-be 40-year-old is averaging 23.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 9.2 assists. Most players’ careers start to slow down in their mid-30s to early 40s, but Lebron continues to play at a high level and, like the majority of his career, is still considered a top player in today’s league.
Bronny has been in the spotlight since he was born. In middle school, fans followed his Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) days playing with the North Coast Blue Chips. He later played at Sierra Canyon School where he was widely regarded as one of the best high school basketball players at the time and was named a McDonald’s All-American, along with current NBA rookies — including Philadelphia 76er’s Jared McCain, San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle, Chicago Bulls’ Matas Buzelis. From there, Bronny went on to play at the University of Southern California until he suffered a cardiac arrest that cut his season short.
Fans and commentators have speculated that this is the most pressure a 55th overall pick has ever gotten.
“Bronny has earned this through hard work,” Head Coach Jonathan Clay “JJ” Redick, a former three-point specialist in the NBA who played 15 seasons against Lebron, said in the Lakers’ 2024 draft pick introduction press conference. “His base level of feel, athleticism, point of attack defender, shooting, passing — there’s a lot to like about his game.”
It’s clear that Redick, along with the Lakers, wants to develop Bronny into his fullest potential as a player. This is an area where the modern NBA and its fans have shown impatience: giving young players time to develop.
At this time, Bronny is only 19 years old and his every shot and every game are analyzed by his 8.1 million followers and social media channels — everyone following the game has high expectations. Bronny is more well known than the No. 1 and No. 2 picks of the 2024 NBA draft, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr. Whether or not he has gained his fame through his father, Bronny is a professional basketball player and has not disappointed as the 55th pick of the second round.
As of now, Bronny has been alternating between playing with the G-League South Bay Lakers and NBA Los Angeles Lakers. We don’t know what will come out of Bronny’s career, but it cannot take away what this means for Lebron James Jr. and Sr. stepping out on that court together.
