First Look At LeBron James With His Son On The Los Angeles Lakers
09/30/2024 03:08 PM
LeBron James' 22nd NBA season won't be like the rest.
For the first time in NBA history, a father and son are on the same team. The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James with the No. 55 pick in this year's draft. Fans already got to see the 19-year-old wear his new No. 9 jersey earlier this summer, but they witnessed the duo together during Monday's team media day.
Courtesy of NBA TV, LeBron and Bronny posed for photos together in their Lakers uniforms.
First look at the James duo 🤩 pic.twitter.com/dqJR5E7S2s
— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 30, 2024
Bronny's last name probably didn't hurt his cause following a freshman season at USC complicated by a cardiac arrest. While the family connection probably helped get his foot in the door, the guard will now face a far brighter spotlight than the typical second-round pick just trying to make the team.
LeBron won't treat Bronny the same as another newcomer scrapping for minutes, but the four-time champion set some important ground rules earlier their summer regarding their professional relationship.
"We already laid that down. Cannot call me 'dad' in the workplace," LeBron said on The Shop in August. "Once we leave out of the private facility and the gates close, I can be 'dad' again. In the car -- if we ride together -- at home, I could be 'dad.' No, he gotta call me like, '2-3' or 'Bron' or 'G.O.A.T.' ... if he wants to."
With that said, Lakers first-round pick Dalton Knecht likely couldn't have gotten away with the trash talk Bronny instigated Monday. The duo playfully bantered when the son accused his father of stepping out of bounds while they faced off in practice.
"But I'm not gonna go there," Bronny said.
"What do you mean you're not gonna go there right now?" LeBron responded. "You just went there."
They then bickered over a foul Bronny thought should have been called while guarded by his famous dad. He realized that he's not going to receive that whistle this early in his career.
"Yeah, you a rookie anyways," LeBron retorted.
Related: Photo Shows Bronny James In Lakers Uniform For First Time
