In June, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Bronny James in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, making Bronny and L.A. All-Star forward LeBron James the first father-son to play in the NBA together at the same time. The Lakers drafting Bronny additionally made Bronny and LeBron teammates, creating a unique dynamic on the team this season.
This new pairing has already led to LeBron becoming the brunt of some jokes.
During a new episode of his show “The Shop,” 39-year-old LeBron recently recounted a story in which, after 19-year-old Bronny was drafted, 31-year-old Lakers All-Star center Anthony Davis called LeBron to talk to Bronny over him.
“[Anthony Davis] FaceTimed me like, ‘I don’t wanna talk to you. I wanna talk to my teammate new. Put him on the phone!'” LeBron said.
LeBron has also been asked if Bronny will still call him “Dad” at practice and in the locker room. He immediately clarified that within the confines of work, the four-time league MVP is not to be addressed that way.
Bronny James #6 of the USC Trojans greets LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Galen Center on January 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Bronny and… MEG OLIPHANT/GETTY IMAGES
Bronny joins the Lakers after spending one season playing basketball for USC, where he started just six of the 25 games he appeared in for the Trojans. He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game at USC.
Since entering the NBA, Bronny has signed a four-year, $7.9 million deal with the Lakers. He saw his first professional action during the NBA’s Summer League in July. Bronny got off to a slow start in Summer League but ended on a strong note with back-to-back games scoring double-digit points.
Bronny has now teamed up with his dad, who is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. The 20-time NBA All-Star, four-time league champion, and all-time leading scorer is embarking on what will be a record-tying 22nd NBA season and his seventh with the Lakers.
The elder James inked a two-year, $101.4 million contract extension that will ostensibly keep him under contract in Los Angeles through the 2025-26 season, though he has a player option next summer.
Bronny and LeBron’s first year together officially begins on Oct. 22, when the Lakers open up the regular season against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It’s unclear how often the father-son duo will take the court together at the same time, as many expect Bronny will spend significant time in the G League with the South Bay Lakers to begin his NBA career.
