The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James as the No. 55 pick in the 2024 draft.
LeBron James couldn’t be more excited about the possibility of taking the court with his son Bronny as his teammate.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected the younger James in the second round of the NBA draft last month, setting the stage for them to become the first-ever father-son duo to play at the same time in the NBA, let alone on the same team.
“It’s probably, when it comes to basketball, it’s the greatest accomplishment I’ve ever had,” LeBron James tells TODAY’s Craig Melvin in an exclusive interview clip that aired on July 8. “I’ve done it all as an individual, but there’s no greater accomplishment that will be able to overtake me being able to be on the same floor as my son. It’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened.”
The full interview with James will air later this week on TODAY.
On June 27, the Lakers selected 19-year-old Bronny James in the 2024 NBA draft. The former USC Trojans guard was drafted at No. 55 in the second round.
LeBron James, meanwhile, recently signed an extension to remain with the Lakers. He is currently in Las Vegas to train with the United States men’s Olympic basketball team, as it prepares to defend its gold medal in the upcoming Summer Games in Paris.
Bronny James could soon share the court with his dad, who has spoken for years about his dream of playing with his son.
After the news broke of Bronny James being drafted, LeBron James turned to social media to celebrate the news.
Bronny James talks to LeBron James on March 28, 2023 in Houston, Texas. Alex Bierens de Haan / Getty Images
“LEGACY!!!!!! 🤴🏾🤴🏾” the proud dad wrote in his Instagram caption on June 27. He shared the message alongside pics and videos of him and Bronny James, including a throwback photo.
During a press conference on April 29, LeBron James said he hadn’t “given it much thought lately” when asked about potentially playing with Bronny James.
“Obviously, I’ve thought about it in the past. But at the end of the day, the kid has to do what he wants to do,” he said at the time.
Bronny James, the superstar athlete’s eldest son, declared for the draft in April and worked out for multiple NBA teams, including the Phoenix Suns and the Lakers.
At an NBA combine press conference, the guard was asked about the role his father would play in helping him get drafted.
“I think I’ve put in the work and I’ll get drafted because of the person, not only the player, but the person that I am,” he said.
Duane Ranki, a Suns insider for The Arizona Republic, described Bronny James as “an NBA talent” when speaking to TODAY.com. Ranki predicted that Bronny James would be drafted during the second round.
Although the teenager is making history by playing with his father —who some considered the greatest basketball player of all time — his road to the NBA wasn’t easy. Before he played his first game for USC, he suffered cardiac arrest in July 2023.
He was diagnosed with “anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect,” the James’ family spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News at the time.
LeBron James looks on towards his son Bronny James of the USC Trojans as the team played against the Long Beach State 49ers at Galen Center on Dec. 10, 2023 in Los Angeles.Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images
Bronny James was later cleared to play and made his debut on the college basketball team in December 2023. He played 25 total games and scored a total of 121 points, according to USC.
When speaking about Bronny James performance at the recent combine, Rankin told TODAY.com, “When he went through the combine, and it wasn’t any lingering effects from it, then that’s when you’re like, ‘OK, well, he’s ready’ in the mind of a team.”
He also correctly guessed that Bronny James would land in the City of Angels with his father.
Lakers fans will likely see Bronny James suit up in purple and gold for the first time during the NBA summer league. The first game will be held in Las Vegas on July 12.
