Based on his own testimony, we were led to believe that Lakers star LeBron James was determined to play with his son and become the first father-son duo in NBA history. But now, according to LeBron’s agent Rich Paul, the King has scaled back those ambitions and will instead shift his priorities elsewhere.
“If he does, he does,” said Paul on LeBron joining Bronny. “But there’s no deal that if LA drafts Bronny at 55, LBJ will re-sign. If that was the case, I’d force LA to take him at 17. The Lakers can draft Bronny, and LeBron may not re-sign. LeBron is also not going to Phoenix for the minimum. Let’s squash that now.”
LeBron James, a 4x champion, is the biggest basketball star on the planet right now and his son, Bronny, is generating some major hype despite being a role player, at best. James Sr. has stated before that he’d love to play with Bronny in the NBA together and this summer is the perfect opportunity to make it happen.
Bronny, 19, is set to get drafted next month after one season at USC. With averages of 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 36% shooting, Bronny didn’t have the best campaign but he showed enough to generate major interest from teams across the league.
Projected as a late second-round pick, it’s been theorized that the Lakers and Suns are the most likely teams to pick him up but Paul says they have no guarantee from any team for the upcoming draft. Whether the Lakers draft Bronny or not, LeBron will not be a package deal and he will consider all alternatives before picking his next contract.
Fans across the basketball world have described themselves as confused with this latest development but I think that LeBron and Bronny will still try to be teammates if they can help it. Obviously, the draft is out of their hands but it’s hard to see James passing up the opportunity of joining Bronny in the right situation.
Rich Paul Explains Why Bronny Has Only Worked Out For Two Teams
Based on Bronny’s projected draft range, it’s impossible to be sure what kind of situation he’ll land in this summer but it’s no secret that he’s been very selective with his workouts. To date, he’s only made himself available to the Lakers and Suns. According to his agent, Rich Paul, that is by design.
“This is nothing new,” Paul said via ESPN. “The goal is to find a team that values your guy and try to push him to get there. It’s important to understand the context and realize that this has always been the strategy with many of my clients throughout the years, especially those in need of development like Bronny. My stuff is by design.”
Unlike some of the top prospects in the draft, Bronny is not a player who will come in and make an impact right away. After he gets drafted, James is most likely headed to the G-League where he can grow and develop his game.
So far, he only trusts the Suns and Lakers to nurture his basketball career but most experts agree that it will take some time either way. Having his dad there to help expand his game will certainly help him make it in the league but Bronny is ready and able to handle this on his own and that’s a good sign if he really wants to make it in this league.
