LeBron James, the celebrated NBA star, recently shared his excitement about playing alongside his son Bronny on the Los Angeles Lakers. In an interview with Craig Melvin on Today, which aired Monday, July 8, LeBron expressed his feelings about re-signing with the Lakers and the team’s decision to draft Bronny.
LeBron and Bronny’s Historic Achievement
“When it comes to basketball, it’s the greatest accomplishment that I’ve ever had,” said LeBron, 39. The basketball legend, who has achieved numerous individual accolades, emphasized that playing with his son surpasses all previous milestones. “There’s no greater accomplishment that will be able to overtake me being on the same floor as my son,” he stated. “It’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened.”
Bronny James, 19, was selected by the Lakers as the 55th overall pick during the second round of the NBA draft on Thursday, June 27. Just a few days later, on Saturday, July 6, news broke that LeBron had re-signed with the Lakers. The team’s Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, Rob Pelinka, praised LeBron’s ongoing commitment to excellence. He highlighted the significance of the father-son duo playing together in the NBA.
Overcoming Challenges
Bronny’s journey to the NBA has been marked by significant challenges. During a practice last July, Bronny suffered cardiac arrest, which led to the discovery of a congenital heart defect. This condition caused him to miss the first eight games of the NCAA season at the University of Southern California. Despite these setbacks, Bronny made his college-basketball debut in December 2023, with his father present to support him.
Although Bronny struggled during the remainder of the season, he impressed scouts at pre-draft workouts. Speaking to reporters, Bronny shared his aspirations. “My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and of course get to the NBA,” he said. “I never thought about just playing with my dad, but of course, he’s brought it up a couple times.”
LeBron celebrated Bronny’s NBA draft selection with an emotional Instagram post. “LEGACY!!!!!! 🤴🏾🤴🏾,” LeBron captioned a slideshow of photos and videos of the two. The upcoming NBA season will witness the historic moment of LeBron and Bronny playing on the same team, marking a unique milestone in basketball history.