Since joining the Los Angeles Lakers in June, Bronny James has been the topic of various NBA-related conversations.
Despite signing a four-year deal with Los Angeles, the young guard could start the 2024-25 season in the NBA G League. However, an NBA insider has made a bold claim about James’ status for the Lakers’ season opener.
“He plays 100 percent in the opener, so they (LeBron and Bronny) can have a moment together, right,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on the Bill Simmons Podcast. “That’s going to happen, so they can pass or whatever.”
After suffering a cardiac arrest in the summer of 2023, James returned to full fitness and made his college debut for the USC Trojans in early December. Statistically speaking, James had a disappointing freshman season in the now-disbanded Pac-12. He averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 assists on 36.6 percent shooting in 25 games.
Those horrendous numbers didn’t stop James from entering the 2024 NBA Draft, though. In June, the Lakers selected him with the 55th overall pick, teaming him with his father, LeBron, in one of the NBA’s biggest markets. James didn’t impress fans in California and Las Vegas during Summer League, but he showed off his good shooting skills, reliable off-ball instincts and competitive defensive nature.
If Lowe’s promise is kept, James will be under enormous pressure to perform from the start. If he doesn’t contribute in Game 1, his harshest critics will unfairly dismiss the possibility of James succeeding in the NBA. Still, it would be a fantastic moment for the first father-son duo in NBA history.
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