With the 2023 NBA Draft in the rearview and knowing the drafted rookies for every team, everyone is shifting focus to the class of 2024. While it isn’t as talented a class as 2023, it does have one massive name that could change the NBA.
Bronny James is expected to declare for next year’s draft and is projected to be a possible lottery pick. ESPN released their first 2024 mock draft and predicted that Bronny will go 17th to the Atalanta Hawks, causing LeBron James to react on Instagram.
Funnily enough, the Lakers had the 17th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. If another poor season plagues the franchise, they could be in a prime position to draft Bronny around this range and let the James family make history in LA as the first father-son duo to share an NBA floor, that too as teammates.
Will LeBron And Bronny Team Up?
Even though rumors of a possible LeBron retirement made the rounds after the Lakers’ playoff exit, it seems they didn’t have much standing. LBJ hasn’t come this far in his career just to retire a season before his son gets drafted. It’s fair to say he’ll play at least two more seasons, but it’ll be a question about where he plays.
James is a free agent next year, with a $51.4 million player option on his contract. With Anthony Davis also being a free agent next season, this Lakers era could be ending at the end of the 2023-24 season. LBJ will be free to sign with whichever team drafts Bronny. But if a better competitive alternative is presented to him, LeBron may just be satisfied with playing against him while competing for another championship.
