Although LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers added a game-changing asset to their roster midseason (Luka Doncic), their inability to match up well with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team with a viable big man, resulted in a championship-less postseason.
James may have been disappointed in Los Angeles’ discouraging end to the year, but that didn’t prevent him from making a major announcement about his son, Bronny.
“Number one, for sure, that’s easy, it’s not even close,” James told reporters on Thursday when asked where playing with his son ranks on his NBA accomplishment list.
“To be able to play the game that I love and to be able to be along with my son this whole year has been one of the most gratifying, satisfying journeys I’ve ever been on.”
“He has a bright future, because not only can he play the game of basketball, he’s just a great (expletive) kid. You can ask anybody, any one of his teammates, any one of the coaches, he’s just a joy to be around. And I have to say, I had a lot to do with that.”
James’ son earned the ‘nepo baby’ title after getting drafted by the Lakers last summer. Many believed that the 6-foot-2 guard’s subpar production at USC should have motivated him to return to college for another season or left him undrafted.
However, the first-year contributor, who suffered from a cardiac arrest during a preseason workout in 2023, made history with his future Hall of Fame role model during the 2024-25 NBA campaign.
Late in the second quarter of the Lakers’ season-opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was official: The James clan became the first father-son duo to compete together in the NBA.
Regarding production, King James had a more impactful season by far, finishing second on the team in scoring (24.4 points per game in the regular season and 25.4 in the playoffs) and appearing in 75 games.
Still, the 21-time All-Star’s recent comments suggest that baby James, who’s been developing nicely in the NBA G League, has the potential to be a special player in due time.
Time will tell if James will play alongside his son again in 2025-26.
