The selection of Bronny James by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th pick in the NBA draft marks a significant milestone towards fulfilling LeBron James’s aspiration of playing alongside his eldest son in the NBA, potentially making them the first father-son duo to achieve this in league history.

Bronny James, 19 years old, faced a formidable journey to this point, including a comeback from a sudden cardiac arrest during a USC practice in July 2023. Following consultations with doctors, he returned to basketball and debuted for USC in December of that year. Despite his absence from the draft ceremonies and media interviews, Bronny was surrounded by close friends and family when he emotionally donned a Lakers hat after his selection.

LeBron James, deeply involved in his son’s basketball journey, has been a constant presence at Bronny’s games, from high school to USC and beyond. The prospect of them playing together for the Lakers aligns with LeBron’s long-held desire, drawing comparisons to Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.’s historic tenure with the Seattle Mariners in MLB.