After the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Bronny James with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, many discussions revolved around the perceived nepotism in the decision. Critics noted that the Lakers could have signed Bronny as an undrafted free agent, allowing them to use their draft pick on a different prospect who might not have otherwise joined the team.
Regardless, the Lakers’ choice to draft Bronny ensured they retained LeBron James’ son within their ranks during the draft. Yet, there remains curiosity about Bronny’s role as a rookie, given his limited college experience of only 25 games. Now at 19 years old, he faces the challenge of competing among the world’s top basketball players. The question lingers about how much playing time Bronny will see on a Lakers team aiming for an NBA Championship.
NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reports an unconventional strategy from the Lakers regarding their rookie. He suggests that Bronny is expected to join the NBA for the first week of the season, providing him opportunities to play alongside LeBron. If this happens, it would mark a historic moment as the first father-son duo in NBA history.
However, following the initial week of the season, Bronny is projected to play the remainder of the year in the G-League, where he can gain valuable playing time against other aspiring NBA players. Wojnarowski notes that there are no anticipated roles for Bronny in the Lakers’ regular rotation, emphasizing his development with the South Bay Lakers developmental team instead.
