Lakers: Bronny James Says He Never Thought of Playing With Dad Lebron; Aware of Internet Comments About Draft

Lebron James and son Bronny already set a historic record of being the first father-son duo in the NBA simultaneously.

No same pair has ever played for the same team.

Being able to play together on the court is different, though. As a 55th overall pick and being undersized for his position, can Bronny crack the Los Angeles Lakers rotation?

The young James is determined to play in the NBA regular season and is dead set on making a name for himself despite the odds.

"I'm ... trying to get my name out for myself," Bronny said Tuesday during the team introduction of this year's rookies.

"I just want to come in and get my work in and get better every day."

Lebron was very vocal about his dream of someday playing with his son. That "someday" is coming soon, but for Bronny, playing with his dad has never been part of his plan. All he wanted was to make the NBA.

"I never really had a thought of me going to play with my dad. That's always there to take part of, but it wasn't a main focus of mine," he said.

It will be hard for him to make a name for himself in a sport his dad has dominated for 20 years. Lebron can even go out as the Greatest of All Time.

Bronny James' skills should not be undermined, though. He has shown in the past how much he's improved from high school to the time he joined college with the USC Trojans.

Being able to play again after a life-threatening cardiac arrest is also a feat in itself.

Bronny is aware of nepotism charges

Did Bronny James make the NBA solely because of his father?

He acknowledged the comments on the internet about nepotism. However, for him, it is not new. He said it is something that has chased him all his life.

Instead, he uses it as a motivation to prove himself.

"It's for sure amplified the amount of pressure," Bronny said.

"I've already seen it in (social) media and on the internet and stuff talking about (how) I might not deserve an opportunity. But I've been dealing with stuff like this for my whole life. It's nothing different. It's more amplified for sure, but I can get through it."

Bronny played 25 games for the Trojans during the 2023-2024 season, mainly as an off-the-bench enforcer, averaging 4.8 points per game and almost three rebounds a night.

New coach JJ Redick believes in Bronny

A great starting point for aspiring players is having coaches who have faith in them. Bronny is getting that from newly-hired head coach JJ Redick, who thinks he earned his way to the league.

"Rob and I did not give Bronny anything," Redick said during a news conference for the rookies.

"Bronny has earned this. ... Bronny has earned this through hard work."

Lebron's son is also thankful for the opportunity. He said he did not get much with USC and could have done better there.

He hopes to prove himself in a Lakers uniform once the summer league and the season start.