LeBron James' son, Bronny, was initially expected to join his father in the NBA, but that plan has changed. According to reports, Bronny's agent, Rich Paul, stated that LeBron's decision to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers is not contingent on whether or not Bronny gets drafted by the team. Several teams have expressed interest in drafting Bronny, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, and Toronto Raptors.
Bronny missed part of his college basketball career at USC due to a cardiac arrest. Despite this setback, he is projected to be drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft later this month. Paul George, a star player for the Los Angeles Clippers, has praised Bronny's basketball savviness and high basketball IQ.
Bronny's father, LeBron James, is a four-time NBA MVP and has won multiple championships throughout his career. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. The James family has a rich NBA history, with Bronny's grandfather, Joe Bryant, and uncles Ron Artest (Metta World Peace) and Carmelo Anthony also having played in the league.
Despite his impressive basketball lineage, some believe that Bronny is being underrated due to his family connections. Jalen Brunson, another player with NBA pedigree, was not a first-round pick despite being named National College Player of the Year.
Bronny has only worked out for a limited number of teams ahead of the draft, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns. Paul confirmed that this is by design and that other teams are interested in seeing him in different workout settings than they scouted him at USC.
The NBA draft is set to take place on June 23, 2024.