NEW YORK When Bronny James' name was announced at the NBA draft, history was created.
The Los Angeles Lakers picked James with the No. 55 pick in the second round. From ESPN's Seaport studio, which is located on the edge of lower Manhattan's Financial District and hosted the second round, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum made the announcement of the selection.
The first father-son player duo in NBA history is Bronny and his father, LeBron James, the league's top player. Nearly twenty-one years after LeBron was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in 2003, Bronny, then 19 years old, was drafted.
The guard, who is 6-2, has great jumping ability and a strong defensive mindset.
A terrifying and exhilarating year for Bronny. His basketball career is in jeopardy after he had a potentially fatal heart collapse in July while exercising on the campus of Southern California.
Bronny had a fantastic final year in high school and was projected as a first-round pick before suffering a heart attack. His development was hampered by the cardiac arrest, which was brought on by a congenital cardiac abnormality. After undergoing surgery to fix the deformity, he was cleared to play for the Trojans. In 25 games during his freshman season in 2023–24, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 36.6% from the field and 26.7% from 3-point range.
James was also cleared to play in the NBA by the NBA's Fitness to Play Panel.
LeBron James once stated that he wanted to play with Bronny, but he has since distanced himself from that statement, stating as early as a year ago that a son's desires aren't necessarily the same as a parent's.
"My dad has mentioned playing with me a few times, but I never really gave it much attention. However, I don't give it much thought," Bronny stated in May at the NBA combine.