They have been father and son for everything 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. Relating to him, I am simply perplexed.
“Simply tremendous proud. Tremendous happy with him to get up to now. 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 courtroom. So what is the plan with coaching camp slated to begin on Tuesday?
“I have not 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 speak 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 dad or mum, witnessing a baby make it to the 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 courtroom?
Now that LeBron and Bronny are formally teammates, the following step is getting all the way down to the enterprise of precise basketball. They will achieve this beneath 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 will probably be 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 does not venture to play significant NBA minutes anytime quickly.
The second that LeBron and Bronny do take the courtroom collectively for the primary time will probably 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, when it comes to a dedication to do it this fashion,” Redick said, per the Related Press. “We clearly have talked about it as a workers, and we’ve gotten into some specifics of what which may appear to be, 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 nicely.”
He additionally mentioned that he does not count on navigating the connection to current a singular problem to him as a coach.
“I don’t have 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 in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They open their common season with a three-game homestand, beginning with that very same Timberwolves crew on Oct. 22. Will Bronny make his NBA debut alongside his dad earlier than the Lakers hit the street?