EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — New Lakers guard Bronny James has become accustomed toward living under his famous father’s shadow.
The Lakers have become accustomed toward remaining one of professional sports’ most iconic franchises for how they meld championship expectations, star power and drama together.
It only seems fitting then that the Lakers’ next compelling episode entails something that Hollywood producers would love to write. Less than a week after the Lakers hired LeBron James’ former podcast partner as their coach (JJ Redick), the Lakers selected James’ son with their No. 55 pick.
Will this highlight the Lakers’ latest sign of dysfunction? Or will this capture the Lakers’ latest example of brilliance?
By selecting Bronny, the Lakers all but assured that James will re-sign with the Lakers after he presumably declines his player option in hopes for a larger deal. Two years after expressing hope that he could play with his son in the NBA, LeBron and Bronny will become the NBA’s first father-son duo.
The Lakers face skepticism on their motives with selecting a player that averaged only 4.8 points on a 36.6% clip and 2.1 assists in only 19.3 minutes per game through 25 contests through his freshman season at USC. Bronny faces questions on his exact NBA trajectory after having such a limited role with the Trojans.
The Lakers sounded bullish, though, on at least one thing about Bronny. Though no one knows how long it will take Bronny to develop as a player, they expressed confidence the younger James already feels prepared for the glaring spotlight that will follow him.
“Growing up as he's grown up, there's a fishbowl,” Pelinka said. “There's lots of eyes looking at everything you do. And I think he's been able to handle all that with an extreme maturity.”
Roll your eyes all you want that Pelinka told Bronny in a call that “this moment was happening mostly because of the work that he’s put into the game and because of the character and young man that he is.” Would the Lakers’ front office high five each other with this much glee if they drafted just any other second-round pick?
Nonetheless, it’s telling that Pelinka invoked Bronny’s character multiple times when evaluating him as a prospect.
Bronny has lived his entire life with the perks that come with having a father that has also become one of the NBA’s most accomplished and wealthiest players. Yet, those around the Lakers and the league laud him for his humble personality.
Bronny shook the NBA community last summer after suffering a cardiac arrest during an off-season practice. Yet, he has impressed the basketball world for having enough resiliency to return to the court nearly four months later.
Bronny faces plenty of question marks on whether he can become a more defined shooter and defender. Yet, the Lakers and outside talent evaluators both give Bronny high marks for his playmaking, for his work ethic and for elevating his teammates.
“It's evident when you spend time with him that he doesn't let things bother him,” Pelinka said. “He is who he is. He believes in himself.
"He was raised right by LeBron and Savannah to be very respectful of coaches and, in my case, a general manager. But when he walks in the room, you have his attention because he was taught that. And it's just very genuine. And you can tell right away, this is a fine young man that was raised the right way."
So even if questions remain on how well Bronny will develop into an NBA player, encouraging signs have emerged that suggest this partnership may produce more than just a cool father-son moment.
For those that believe Bronny’s presence might disrupt the Lakers’ locker room dynamic? That seems implausible, too.
They’ll surely respect LeBron because he still plays at an All-Star caliber level. They’ll surely respect Bronny because he hardly acts like he has the same playing credentials.
For those that predict LeBron will become either too laudatory or critical of his son? That would be ignoring his leadership style during his whole career.
LeBron has always shown a healthy balance between pushing and encouraging his teammates. Here’s a safe guess he has adopted the same tactic with his son through his entire life.
All of which should make for a great story.
“NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform,” Pelinka said. “So that’s just sort of globally how we feel about the draft moment, but more importantly than that is to talk about Bronny James as a basketball player because this is his day, and he was the one selected with the 55th pick.”
