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4 months ago
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The son of NBA superstar LeBron James has joined his father on the playing roster at the LA Lakers - after bizarrely threatening to play in Australia if drafted by another franchise.
Bronny James, 19, was picked in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft as the 55th overall selection.
It comes after the young gun - who has played College basketball for the USC Trojans the last two years - desperately wanted to create a slice of NBA history.
'There's never been a father and son that have shared an NBA basketball court....and that feels like something that could be magical,' LA Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said.
'And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.'
The timing is also interesting - LeBron's future with the Lakers is somewhat clouded, given the veteran can opt out of the final year and $51million of his deal this week to become a free agent.
However, the Lakers can offer the four-time MVP a three-year maximum deal worth $161million, and with his son now on board, that might be too enticing for the 39-year-old to turn down.
Pre the Lakers signing Bronny James, the youngster - via his agent Rich Paul - reportedly told rival NBA teams to steer clear of the point guard in the Draft.
The son of NBA superstar LeBron James has joined his father at the LA Lakers - after bizarrely threatening to play in Australia's NBL competition if drafted by another franchise
Bronny James, 19, was picked in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft with the 55th overall selection
LA Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said: 'there's never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court....and that feels like something that could be magical'
The bold strategy has paid off, with the teenager famed for his basketball IQ and point-of-attack defence now set to grace NBA courts across the US.
Bronny James will now hope to be one of the few sons to have played with their fathers in US professional sport.
Other examples include Ken Griffey Jr. playing baseball with his father Ken Griffey Sr. on the Seattle Mariners in 1990, while Mark and Marty Howe played alongside their legendary old man Gordie with the Hartford Whalers in the late 1970s and 1980.
When it comes to young US stars looking to prove themselves on Australian shores before cracking the NBA, LaMelo Ball is a prime example in recent years.
The highly touted point guard was on the books of the Illawarra Hawks in the 2019-200 season and was a revelation.
He then was selected as the third overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2020 NBA draft.
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