LOS ANGELES Lakers forward LeBron James is set to fulfill his dream of teaming up with his son, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., before he formally retires from NBA.
The Lakers made this possible after selecting Bronny as the 55th overall pick during the second round of 2024 NBA Rookie Draft on Thursday night (Friday in the Philippines).
If ever signed to a contract, the 39-year-old LeBron and the 19-year-old Bronny will become the first-ever father-son tandem to play for a team in NBA history.
Bronny collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect during a practice session with the University of Southern California Trojans last year.
The younger James went on to play for the Trojans, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his lone season for the school before he decided to join the NBA Draft.
Bronny is seen as a top defensive prospect with elite athletic skills and strong instincts for the game but might need time to develop fully as an NBA player.
Bronny’s Trojans teammate, Filipino-American guard Boogie Ellis will still have a shot at realizing his NBA dream after earning an invite to play for the Sacramento Kings in the upcoming Summer League next month.
According to a report by O.C. Register sports writer Luca Evans, Ellis’ agent Derek Malloy confirmed the Kings invite after Ellis was not selected in the 2024 NBA Rookie Draft.
The 23-year-old Ellis averaged 16.5 points, on 42.7 percent field goal shooting, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in his final year with the Trojans.
Prior to his three seasons with the Trojans, Ellis spent his first two collegiate years with the Memphis Tigers, where he won an NIT championship and the ACC’s ‘Sixth Man of the Year’ in 2021./PN
