They have been father and son for the whole thing of Bronny James’ life.
Now they’re teammates within the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers chosen Bronny James in June’s NBA Draft to play together with his father LeBron. The pair made their public debut as teammates on Monday at Lakers media day.
For LeBron, the second marked the end result of a dream he’s spoken of since Bronny emerged as a prospect on the prep scene. He was all smiles on the set of Spectrum SportsNet on Monday when Bronny joined him for an interview with each of them sporting their Lakers gear.
LeBron sported his conventional No. 23. Bronny was sporting No. 9 with “James Jr.” throughout the again.
‘Let’s get the tissue out’
“Simply pure pleasure, man,” LeBron mentioned when requested about his feelings. “I haven’t got any phrases. I can discuss me. You guys ask me questions on me. With regards to him, I am simply confused.
“Simply tremendous proud. Tremendous happy with him to get so far. He is a person. He is able to go. No matter questions you bought for him, go forward and let him have it.”
LeBron has already mentioned that he doesn’t want Bronny calling him “Dad” after they’re on the court docket. So what is the plan with coaching camp slated to start out on Tuesday?
“I have never gotten there but,” Bronny mentioned. “It is most likely gonna be, like, Bron. Bron can be the best.”
The daddy-son duo commenced with some pleasant trash discuss that carried over from a pickup game performed final week. LeBron saved up the banter, giving Bronny a tough time whereas Bronny gave an interview to ESPN.
Each are clearly overjoyed with the second. For an athlete’s guardian, witnessing a toddler make it to the very best degree of their sport is a dream come true. To take action as his teammate is one other degree altogether.
When will LeBron, Bronny make debut collectively on court docket?
Now that LeBron and Bronny are formally teammates, the subsequent step is getting right down to the enterprise of precise basketball. They will achieve this below a rookie head coach in JJ Redick, who will face immediate pressure to return the Lakers to championship contention after they misplaced in 5 video games to the Denver Nuggets within the first spherical of the playoffs final season.
Navigating the LeBron-Bronny dynamic might be yet another problem for Redick to determine in his first season as a head coach at any degree. Bronny was a backup as a freshman at USC final season and would not undertaking to play significant NBA minutes anytime quickly.
The second that LeBron and Bronny do take the court docket collectively for the primary time might be a landmark second within the NBA. Redick declined to decide to a plan for that second throughout a information convention final week.
“We don’t have something deliberate, per se, by way of a dedication to do it this manner,” Redick said, per the Related Press. “We clearly have talked about it as a employees, and we’ve gotten into some specifics of what which may seem like, however we haven’t dedicated to something.
“And clearly there’s a dialogue available as soon as we’re all collectively, with Bronny and LeBron, too. They need to be part of that dialogue as properly.”
He additionally mentioned that he would not count on navigating the connection to current a novel problem to him as a coach.
“I don’t take a look at it as a problem that’s distinctive from every other problem of teaching a participant or teaching a relationship,” Redick mentioned.
We’ll see about that.
The Lakers make their preseason debut on Oct. 4 towards the Minnesota Timberwolves. They open their common season with a three-game homestand, beginning with that very same Timberwolves workforce on Oct. 22. Will Bronny make his NBA debut alongside his dad earlier than the Lakers hit the street?
