No matter how much the basketball community speculates about Bronny James entering the NBA due to his connections or insider influence, it remains an incredibly special moment for his father, LeBron James. The day LeBron shares the court with his 19-year-old son will be a historic moment, one that lights up the face of the four-time NBA Champion whenever Bronny is mentioned in interviews or podcasts.
Reflecting on this sentiment, LeBron recently shared a funny story about how Bronny’s popularity even led his Lakers teammate Anthony Davis to seemingly overlook him. Despite being a second-round pick, Bronny has been a hot topic during the off-season, generating buzz with his potential and the prospect of playing alongside his legendary father.
On the Nike x The Shop podcast, host Paul Rivera recounted a humorous moment on draft night: “There was a cool moment that night where, after Bronny got drafted, AD FaceTimed Bron. Bron’s like, ‘What’s up AD?’ and AD goes, ‘I called to talk to Bronny…’” Laughing, LeBron chimed in, “AD FaceTimed me like, ‘I don’t want to talk to you, I want to talk to my new teammate. Put him on the phone!’” The memory had LeBron chuckling, unable to believe that he would soon share the court with his son.
As training camp approaches, LeBron is still in disbelief over the reality of playing alongside Bronny. Sharing his excitement on The Shop podcast, he said, “I am so excited for training camp. Having your son work with you, it’s like the greatest thing. I can’t wait for this moment. It’s going to be pretty surreal for me.”
Bronny, despite a shaky start in the Summer League, showed flashes of his potential, averaging 12.5 points on 47.6% shooting in his final two appearances. However, the likelihood of Bronny securing significant minutes in the regular season is still uncertain. While JJ Redick, the Lakers coach, might give him some time off the bench to share the court with his father, a starting position remains a distant goal for the young rookie.
ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski hinted that Bronny might spend much of his rookie season in the G-League, focusing on development. With the Lakers aiming for redemption after a first-round playoff exit to the Denver Nuggets last season, they will be looking for experienced, committed starters to lead a deep playoff run, rather than relying on an underdeveloped rookie.
As the new season approaches, the anticipation of seeing LeBron and Bronny James on the same court grows, promising a heartwarming chapter in the legacy of one of the NBA’s most iconic families.
