It’s official: Bronny James is now part of the Los Angeles Lakers family.
Selected with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny takes a significant step forward in his basketball journey, bringing him closer to potentially sharing the court with his father, LeBron James, a Lakers stalwart for the past six seasons. While the narrative naturally revolves around the historic father-son dynamic, LeBron has been steadfast in ensuring that the spotlight remains squarely on his son during this pivotal moment.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that the James family celebrated Bronny’s draft selection in a private setting in New York, capturing the emotional moment on social media. Bronny’s younger brother Bryce shared the excitement on his Instagram story, underscoring the family’s unity and support.
In response to his son’s achievement, LeBron took to Instagram, typically a platform for his expressive posts, keeping his message succinct yet powerful: “LEGACY!!!!!!” accompanied by two king emojis. Alongside this proclamation, LeBron shared a series of poignant photos and a video montage. The sequence begins with a throwback to a young Bronny seated beside his father on the Cavaliers bench in 2007, then fast-forwards to 2024, capturing moments of them both executing between-the-legs dunks—a testament to their shared athleticism and bond.
The final image, which features a photoshopped rendering of LeBron and Bronny in Lakers uniforms, serves as a symbolic nod to their potential future together on the court in purple and gold.
While LeBron’s immediate playing future with the Lakers remains a formal matter pending his player option for the upcoming season, his Instagram post strongly suggests a continued commitment to the franchise for his 22nd NBA campaign. The Lakers’ decision to draft Bronny reflects not just his basketball acumen, but also his character, work ethic, and the historic opportunity to make NBA history as the league’s first active father-son duo.
Bronny, who turned heads with a solid season at USC and an impressive draft workout, will celebrate his 20th birthday in October, while LeBron approaches his 40th in December—an age-defying testament to his enduring impact on the game.
As the anticipation builds towards Bronny’s formal introduction as an NBA player, the signing of his first professional contract, and his debut in the Summer League, LeBron’s Instagram post is likely just the beginning of many proud moments and reactions to come from the proud father and basketball icon.
