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No father-son duo has ever played alongside
each other in the league before and while Bronny is not expected
to log significant minutes in his rookie season, it will no
doubt be a special moment when they appear together for the
first time on the NBA hardwood.
LeBron was aged 19 and the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year when
his now wife Savannah gave birth to LeBron Raymone "Bronny"
James Jr. in Akron, Ohio in 2004.
Bronny attracted enormous attention as a high school player at
Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles and in his senior year was
joined by his younger brother Bryce, a 17-year-old potential NBA
prospect.
Last summer Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest while training with
the University of Southern California (USC) basketball team and
was placed in intensive care.
He was cleared to return to the team in November and went on to
average 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game
playing guard in his lone season with the Trojans.
There was some speculation that another team with a higher pick
might swoop in and take Bronny before the Lakers, either to
entice LeBron to switch teams or to simply mess with the Lakers
plans.
But doing so would risk raising the ire of Rich Paul, the
powerful NBA agent who represents Bronny, LeBron and many top
tier players.
LeBron, the league's all-time leading scorer and a four-time
champion, turns 40 in December and is entering into the 22nd
season of his legendary career.
The Lakers, who fell in the first round of the NBA playoffs in
April, have their work cut out for them in the competitive
Western Conference next season with first time head coach JJ
Redick at the helm.
Fans could get their first look of Bronny in a Lakers uniform
when the NBA's Summer League kicks off in Las Vegas on July 12.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles) [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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