Do you and Bronny James talk much about dealing with all the attention at such a young age? Amari Bailey: Bronny and I are close. Honestly, I’ve learned from watching Bronny. Bronny has it worse than any high school kid, any kid growing up. Anything that he does is under the microscope. And I’ve gotten to study it for three years, how he handles it. He’s very mellow. He’s very chill with it. He doesn’t get rattled much. I feel like you can see that in me, as well. Let’s keep it candid. With my mom and everything that’s going on around me there, there are a lot of speculations. There are a lot of questions that you could have. And I’m just at a point now where mentally I’ve damn near seen it all. And everything now is like a new situation. I haven’t been here in any of it. I’m just going in, head-on and ready to work, honestly.
Tag: Bronny James
For one, LeBron has another year left …
For one, LeBron has another year left on his contract. So if he were to try and get back to Cleveland for next season, when the Cavs could be really good, Cleveland would either have to trade a bunch of the young players that are part of the team’s exciting core — which LeBron really likes — and probably throw in Kevin Love’s expiring $30 million contract, which the Lakers probably wouldn’t want in a rebuild. Two summers from now, LeBron would be a free agent, but he’s said his last goal in the NBA is to play with his eldest son, Bronny, who as of now will be NBA draft-eligible in the summer of 2024. The easiest, most logical place for the James family to play together is in Los Angeles, where the Lakers, with Paul’s help, can draft or sign him as a free agent. It’s much cleaner if Paul tries to direct Bronny to a team where his dad already plays.
“The dynamic of managing LeBron alone …
“The dynamic of managing LeBron alone is a thing,” the first GM said. “Could you imagine managing him while trying to manage his son?” The second GM echoed that sentiment. “I can’t speak for all the other teams, but to plan for a 39-year-old and taking on his son, who I hear is just decent, to make moves for all that, I don’t see it,” he said. “LeBron is still good, but he can’t carry you anymore. The only way I could see doing it is if you needed the box office draw.”
Which, especially for small-market …
Which, especially for small-market teams, would be quite the bonanza, one NBA team owner said. Hosting the last year of LeBron’s career “would be an automatic sell-out of every game,” the owner said. “If Minnesota signed him, their gate would double. … Sponsorships would go up, and so would TV ratings. It would be temporary, though, so I’m not sure how many teams would want to deal with … accommodating all the requests [from LeBron].”
LeBron James commits future to Lakers: ‘I’m here’
LeBron James says he sees himself as a Laker for “as long as I can play.”
LeBron James set off alarm bells within the Lakers organization during the NBA All-Star break when he told reporters that if he has a chance to play his final season alongside his son Bronny, he’d do anything to make that happen.
“Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point,” James said.
This coincided with a report that Klutch Sports is unhappy with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, though Rich Paul has since denied a report that he wanted Russell Westbrook traded to Houston in a deal for John Wall.
After Friday’s loss to the Clippers, James said that while he does have a desire to play with his son if possible, he’s still committed to the Lakers.
Via ESPN:
“I see myself being with the purple and gold as long as I can play… I also have a goal that, if it’s possible — I don’t even know if it’s possible — that if I can play with my son, I would love to do that,” said James, 37. “Is that, like, something that any man shouldn’t want that in life? That’s like the coolest thing that could possibly happen. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with this franchise.”
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“And then things about my son, me …
“And then things about my son, me wanting to play with my son wherever he’s at — You guys take my words and just twist them to different places where they shouldn’t go. Like if I comment or compliment the GM that’s in OKC, I really believe that he’s done a phenomenal job. And you guys spin that to me saying that Rob (Pelinka) is not doing a great job. Or if I say the GM from the Rams, I loved his f*ckin T-shirt. I thought it was dope. And I believe the same way: I don’t care about picks. I only care about winning championships. How is that directed at Rob and the Lakers’ franchise? Rob has done the same thing. He went and got AD, he didn’t care about picks as well, obviously.”
As discussed on Monday’s BRING IT IN, …
As discussed on Monday’s BRING IT IN, it’s almost a lock that at least one team would spend a first-round pick for the chance to employ two LeBrons. The question isn’t whether LeBron’s statement gets his son drafted. The question is, can Bronny play? The second game we are talking about is basketball. And that’s what I do for a living. After a few days’ watching video, I have deep thoughts about Bronny as an NBA prospect. I love him. Bronny James notes * Powerfully built with good size for a combo guard. * Exceptional speed side to side when his team presses, and when racing on the break. I would like to see more racing when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands.
As for Bronny’s NBA future, one talent …
As for Bronny’s NBA future, one talent evaluator told me recently he would probably be best-served by staying in college for two or three years before entering the draft. James’ insistence over the weekend, however, that he would follow his son anywhere and play for any amount of money for his final season will have Bronny, now a high school junior, shooting up draft boards across the league should he come out when first draft eligible in two years.
LeBron James confirms his last season will be spent playing with his son Bronny
LeBron James wants to go out after playing a season with his son Bronny.
LeBron James’ tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers took a major turn Saturday just before the 2022 All-Star game.
He insinuated a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, his hometown team and the franchise that drafted him No. 1 overall back in 2003, is possible.
But if he’s not returning to the Cavaliers, he will leave to play with his son, Bronny James, who is currently a high school junior. Jason Lloyd of The Athletic detailed the situation:
Bronny is a high school junior. Under the league’s current system, he wouldn’t be draft-eligible for two more years, leaving James in contract purgatory for one year. The league could change its stance to allow high school players to go directly to the NBA, which would align Bronny’s draft eligibility with James’ current contract status. The league changing the rule before then, however, seems unlikely.
Nevertheless, James’ message to all 30 teams Saturday was clear: If you want me, draft Bronny.
“My last year will be played with my son,” James said. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”
The Lakers are 27-31 and don’t have the assets to make significant roster changes to build a legitimate contender for LeBron’s final season under contract before he enters unrestricted free agency next summer.
This situation will definitely get more interesting, and it’s not surprising James dropped these details while the All-Star game takes place in Cleveland.
But if a team wants the shot at having LeBron’s final season, drafting Bronny is a requirement.
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