Most observers think that the Los Angeles Lakers will find a way to make sure that LeBron James can play with his son Bronny in Los Angeles, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon.
The younger James is a freshman at the University of Southern California this season, and he could enter the 2024 NBA Draft. However, a health issue for the younger James may delay how soon he joins the NBA ranks.
“If he declines a $51 million player option, James could be a free agent next summer,” Vardon wrote. “The serious health issue that befell his son Bronny over the summer and potentially delayed his entrance into the NBA Draft could be the single biggest factor affecting James’ free agency. He would want to be able to play on the same team as his son, if it’s possible, but even if Bronny is in the draft (he intends to play at some point this season as a freshman for USC), most observers believe the Lakers will find a way to make sure that happens in Los Angeles.”
Lakers fans have to love that the team reportedly will attempt to keep the elder James in Los Angeles by adding his son, especially since the four-time champion is still playing at a high level.
Last season, the elder James averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from beyond the arc.
The Lakers ended up making the Western Conference Finals as the No. 7 seed last season, and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer was a massive reason why.
They knocked out the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors before losing to the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, and James led the charge with some strong playoff numbers. He averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.
In a recent commercial, the elder James’ wife hinted at him trying to stick around in the NBA long enough to play with his youngest son Bryce, who just turned 16 years old this June.
Savannah James has a message for LeBron in his new beats commercial
"Tell them you're not done until you play with your son [Bronny]. Then do that, again [with Bryce]." 👀
(h/t @LeBronNationCP / via @beatsbydre )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 23, 2023
If the Lakers star is able to pull that off, he’d have arguably the most impressive career longevity of any star in the NBA.
The Lakers could find a way to draft Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft or try to orchestrate a trade for the promising young guard.
Either way, it’s a good sign for Lakers fans that the team intends to do what it can to keep LeBron James happy – and with the Lakers – even once Bronny James is an NBA player.
