Bronny James, the eldest son of NBA legend LeBron James, made his professional basketball debut in the NBA Summer League on July 6, 2024. The Los Angeles Lakers rookie played against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center in San Francisco. Bronny's journey to this moment was not an easy one; he survived a cardiac arrest last July due to a congenital heart defect and underwent rigorous rehabilitation before returning to play.
Bronny James started for the Lakers alongside his father, who couldn't attend the game due to preparations for the Paris Olympics with Team USA. The younger James wore jersey number 9, different from his father's iconic number 23. In his first run of action, Bronny missed two shots and came up short on a three-point attempt before getting a breather.
When he returned to the court in the second quarter, Bronny scored his first NBA points on a driving layup at the 5:51 mark. He received cheers and warm ovations from fans, who were excited to witness history being made as father and son played on the same team.
Bronny James finished his debut game with 4 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal in under 22 minutes of playtime. Despite missing all three of his attempted three-pointers, he showed promise on both ends of the court. The Lakers lost to the Sacramento Kings with a score of 108-94.
LeBron James expressed his pride and excitement about playing alongside Bronny in an interview, stating that it was a dream come true for him as well. The father-son duo is set to become the first in NBA history to play on the same team at the same time.
Bronny James was drafted by the Lakers with the 55th pick in the second round of the NBA draft last week and signed a four-year, $7.9 million rookie deal. The younger James's journey to professional basketball has been filled with challenges, but his determination and hard work have paid off.
The Lakers will face the Golden State Warriors in their next game of the Summer League on July 7, 2024.
