{"id":73693,"date":"2025-06-03T10:05:21","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T10:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/73693\/"},"modified":"2025-06-03T10:05:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T10:05:21","slug":"bronny-james-selected-by-lakers-with-no-55-pick-in-nba-draft-joining-lebron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/73693\/","title":{"rendered":"Bronny James selected by Lakers with No. 55 pick in NBA Draft, joining LeBron"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK \u2014 Years of speculation have finally ended. Bronny James<\/a>, the eldest son of Lakers<\/a> star LeBron James, indeed has a home in the NBA<\/a>, on his father\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

Bronny James<\/a>, one of the most highly scrutinized amateur basketball players of the last decade, was taken 55th overall Thursday night in the NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. The selection capped 12 long months of guessing about James\u2019 place in the game, which included questions about whether he could compete professionally following a cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and, of course, get to the NBA,\u201d James<\/a> said at the NBA Draft Combine in May.<\/p>\n

Bronny: Los Angeles Laker. pic.twitter.com\/TvhkzEs9sO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

The Lakers went 47-35 last season, falling to the Denver Nuggets<\/a> in the first round of the playoffs. LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists in his 21st season. He has until Saturday to extend his current agreement with the Lakers, or he could opt out and sign a new deal as a free agent in July. The max new deal he could sign is for three years, $162 million.<\/p>\n

Bronny<\/a> went pro after just one year at Southern California, where he averaged 4.8 points and 19.3 minutes in 25 games and had trouble with his shooting touch. He came to college as the 17th-best prospect in his high school class, according to consensus rankings, yet even as he struggled he carried the allure of his father\u2019s stated dream to one day play together in the NBA.<\/p>\n

That idea had been thrown into serious question one year ago. James collapsed during a USC practice last July with a cardiac arrest<\/a> caused by a congenital heart defect. He was hospitalized about two days and quickly, the James family said it was confident he would recover. Yet James himself said at the combine last month that the episode had rattled him, with an enduring effect.<\/p>\n

Bronny James is selected 55th overall by the @Lakers<\/a> in the 2024 #NBADraft<\/a> presented by State Farm!<\/p>\n

Watch the Second Round on ESPN. pic.twitter.com\/BnxozT7CGj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still lingering,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel like my parents were a big factor in believing in me and giving me the love and affection that I needed at that time. But I still think about everything that could happen. I just love the game so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

James\u2019 improved health and his presence on the court reinvigorated discussions about whether he was talented enought to be drafted. That conversation in basketball circles and beyond took on a new dimension when LeBron James said two years ago<\/a> that he wanted to finish his career with father and son together on the same team. \u201cMy last year will be played with my son,\u201d LeBron James said as the Lakers visited the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>, the team that drafted him at age 18 in 2003.<\/p>\n

\u201cWherever Bronny is at, that\u2019s where I\u2019ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year,\u201d LeBron James said in February 2022.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

LeBron James plays with his sons Bryce and now-teammate Bronny during the 2010 All-Star weekend. (Photo: Jason Merritt \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Since then, Bronny has had that hope stapled to his prospects. Teams and media speculated about how James\u2019 draft stock might be influenced by his father\u2019s desires. The easy, frequent question: Would a team draft Bronny as a means to lure LeBron?<\/p>\n

Bronny James<\/a> worked out only for two teams, the Phoenix Suns<\/a> and Los Angeles Lakers. Rich Paul, his agent at Klutch Sports, said James would not sign a two-way contract, a common move for developing players.<\/p>\n

James has said he believed he would be drafted on his own merits.<\/p>\n

These two are now teammates in the NBA.@KingJames<\/a> x Bronny | @Lakers<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MyWiJ8tfaW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 27, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a serious business, and I don\u2019t feel like there would be a thought of \u2018I\u2019m just drafting this kid just because I\u2019m going to get his dad,\u2019\u201d he said last month. \u201cI don\u2019t think a GM would really allow that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI\u2019ve put in the work and I would get drafted because of not only the player but the person that I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, James has that place in the NBA and the chance like many of his peers to show he can build up his own career and name. It is all he has ever asked for.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Required reading<\/p>\n

(Photo: Jeff Haynes \/ NBAE via Getty Images)<\/p>\n