Former USC guard Bronny James fulfilled his NBA aspirations when the Los Angeles Lakers selected him in the second round of last month’s draft. With his arrival in the professional ranks, James became one-half of the league’s first father-son duo, and his pairing with basketball legend LeBron James already took the NBA by storm well ahead of their first game together.
The Lakers dominated pre-draft headlines with their reported interest in selecting the younger James, and while his father’s influence on the franchise came into question, he said at his introductory press conference that he did not place much emphasis on teaming up with the future Hall of Famer.
“I always try to put that narrative of me trying to get my name out for myself,” James said at his debut Lakers media availability. “But just coming in and trying to get better. Rob (Pelinka) has told me that there’s a great development system here, so I just want to come in and get my work in and get better every day. But I never really had a thought of me going to play with my dad, but that’s always there to take part of. But that wasn’t a main focus of mine.”
Prior to the draft, Rich Paul — Bronny James’ agent — said his client was not interested in a two-way deal and reportedly told teams to avoid drafting him or else he would choose to play professionally overseas. This provided room for the Lakers to take James near the end of the second round at No. 55 overall.
“It’s for sure an amplified amount of pressure,” James said of playing with his father. “I’ve already seen it [in the] media and on the internet and stuff talking about ‘I might not deserve an opportunity.’ But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life, so it’s nothing different, but it’s more amplified, for sure. But I can get through it.”
James, a former four-star recruit, played in 24 games as a true freshman at USC, averaging 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 19.3 minutes per contest. He shot 37.4% from the floor and 27.3% from 3-point range.
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“He had a great draft workout with us where he displayed those qualities to me in an hour lunch that we shared in the building just to get to know each other,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said after the draft. “It became clear that he was a man of character. In terms of his work ethic, I think we’ve all seen that lived out, too. He’s not a person that is ever taking short cuts or expected or been entitled about basketball opportunities.”
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