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Bronny James had a lifelong dream come true after hearing his name called during the NBA draft on Thursday.
James, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 55 pick, also gets to be a part of history, joining his father, LeBron, to become the first father-son duo to play together in NBA history.
After he was selected, James took to social media to share how he was feeling, saying he’s “beyond blessed” to play in the NBA alongside his father.
BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 @BASKETBALLonX
Bronny James reaction to being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft:
“Beyond Blessed 🙏”
[via. IG// @ bronny] pic.twitter.com/jNvc4i2OFz
Though James had name recognition his entire life, he became a talented player and made a name for himself throughout high school, joining USC as a 5-star prospect last season.
He overcame a scary obstacle last summer after suffering a cardiac arrest in July. After taking time to recover, he made his collegiate debut for the Trojans in December.
He struggled a bit in his sole season with USC, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while playing 19.4 minutes per game, but an impressive showing at the NBA combine put him back on scouts’ radars leading up to the draft.
As the Lakers’ second-round pick neared, it became increasingly evident they would use it to select James. ESPN’s Bob Myers reported that James’ agent, Rich Paul, called certain teams telling them not to draft James and that if they did, he would go play in Australia.
Whether Paul’s warning to teams played a factor in James landing with the Lakers is uncertain, but it likely gave Los Angeles confidence that he would be there with the 55th pick.
James being drafted by his father’s team will certainly be a talking point for the next few months, but the rookie will look to make any doubts about his capabilities an afterthought during his first season in the league.