After months and months of speculation, it is now official: Bronny James is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers after they took him with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
He is the eldest son of Lakers superstar LeBron James, and although he struggled this season at the University of Southern California, he is thought to have some sneaky potential. Scouts who are optimistic about him point to his 40.5-inch vertical leap, defensive tenacity and strong character as reasons he can succeed at the next level.
Draft day in general is always an emotional day for draftees and their families. It is the end result of many years of hard work and perseverance, never mind the fact that it means these draftees become instant millionaires and will be able to provide for their families, if not help their parents retire early.
The younger James let his emotions out a bit when it was announced he had been taken by the Purple and Gold.
Bronny got emotional when drafted to Lakers 🙌
(via imdwhite/IG) pic.twitter.com/CpfTHsEqtH
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 28, 2024
The elder James, who was together with loved ones in the Big Apple at the time, was also overcome by the moment.
Via ESPN:
“The James family received the news while gathered together at an intimate dinner party in New York, sources told ESPN,” wrote Dave McMenamin. “LeBron’s mother, Gloria, and wife Savannah’s parents attended, along with some of Bronny’s closest friends and confidants.
“After the Lakers delivered their decision, LeBron led the group in a champagne toast to commemorate the occasion, a source told ESPN, and was ‘very emotional’ considering the weight of the moment.”
The younger James, as most will remember, suffered a cardiac arrest episode last summer. At the time, it was feared that he would have to stop playing basketball as a result, but after a battery of tests, he was diagnosed with a treatable congenital heart defect and was cleared to resume basketball activities.
Simply overcoming a serious health scare like that and getting a clean bill of health is a major accomplishment for anyone. But the younger James has now made it to the NBA despite that serious health scare. Soon, he will take on the challenge of becoming a good player at that level.