LeBron James and Bronny James in July 2023 at the ESPY Awards. PHOTO: Getty and Frazer Harrison
On July 6, the Lakers organization made the significant decision that James had made.
Every son follows after his dear old dad!
With his official re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, 39-year-old LeBron James moves one step closer to playing professional basketball with his 19-year-old eldest son, Bronny.
In a proclamation shared by the group on Saturday, July 6, Lakers VP of B-ball Tasks and Head supervisor Ransack Pelinka shared that LeBron's "obligation to consistent execution and long haul supported greatness is unparalleled."
ESPN's Bobby Marks wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that LeBron signed for $101.35 million over two years despite being "eligible for $104 million," citing sources. The terms of LeBron's most recent contract have not been made public.
"LeBron is one of the most unique and cutthroat players to at any point take the NBA court and we're thankful to have his initiative as he returns for a seventh season with the Lakers" Pelinka added.
"LeBron and new Lakers head coach JJ Redick will together lead a championship-caliber team that will play with great pride every time they take the floor," he continued. "Alongside fellow team captain Anthony Davis." LeBron James, who is entering his 22nd NBA basketball season, keeps reminding us that no challenge is too big or too far away. We're appreciative to the point that the set of experiences making story of LeBron James will keep on being written before Lakers fans all through the world."
The Lakers selected Bronny 55th overall in the second round of the NBA Draft on June 27. LeBron's new contract comes just over a week later. At the time, the NBA announced that the father and son team would become the first to play in the league simultaneously.
Bronny's short stint at the University of Southern California precedes his move to the major leagues.
LeBron spoke with reporters about their team's offseason after his son participated in the NBA Summer League against the Sacramento Kings in the California Classic on July 6.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the older James expressed the hope that his son will experience the "pace of the game, the speed of the game, and the physicality of the game" in the NBA. In his first game in the Summer League, Bronny went 2-for-9 and missed three 3-point attempts, netting 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.
However, his performance in the California Classic and Summer League is unaffected by whether or not he performs well. I simply maintain that he should keep on developing. LeBron stated, "his individual workouts, film sessions, and practices."
"You can't take anything detail wise from the California Exemplary and Summer Association and bring it once the season begins. The only thing that matters is for him to improve and accumulate days.
The proud father also described his son's draft success as a "dream come true" for him.
LeBron stated, "To be able to see my son, to be able to be in the NBA alone, it’s always been a dream of his." To be honest, a lot of words are lost because we are there side by side. I'm not sure. The child has put in a lot of effort to reach this point.
"So much has happened to him over the past year," he continued, "but to have this happen less than a year after his [cardiac arrest] incident and to be with our friends and family when they announced his name was something that was super surreal." /people.com
