During the introductory news conference for Bronny James with the L.A. Lakers on Tuesday, new coach J.J. Redick said he “earned” his way onto the team.
“Rob and I did not give Bronny anything,” Redick told reporters, referring to Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. “Bronny has earned this. ... Bronny has earned this through hard work.”
Bronny, who was chosen with the 55th pick in last week’s NBA Draft, averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 25 games this past season after debuting in December following cardiac arrest in July. He probably could have benefited from at least another year in college, but said he didn’t leave USC after one season with the idea of playing with his famous father LeBron James.
“Rob 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,” Bronny said. “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 the main focus of mine.”
Of course, LeBron famously told ESPN in January 2023 that he “needed” to play with his son in the NBA.
“I need to be on the floor with my boy,” LeBron told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin then.
LeBron said it could be either in the “same uniform or a matchup with him...I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr./Jr. thing. That would be ideal, for sure, being with him, spending a full year with him in the same uniform, that would be the icing on the cake.”
The Lakers, meantime, plan to sign Bronny to a multiyear fully guaranteed rookie contract that will put him on the NBA roster instead of a rookie Two-Way contract that second-round picks often sign, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Bronny missed nearly five months between July and December as he recovered from cardiac arrest, and many observers have said that significantly impacted his development.
“I feel like I could’ve been perfecting my game more,” Bronny said. “I feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to showcase what I can really do because I wasn’t given that much of an opportunity at SC. I’m excited for what is to come.”
Meantime, LeBron is currently a free agent although he is expected to re-sign with the Lakers. He has said he is willing to take a pay cut from the three-year, $162 million maximum contract he is eligible to sign in order for the Lakers to add an “impact player.” They missed out on sharpshooter Klay Thompson when he signed a three-year, $50-million deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
Pelinka said he plans to continue to work to improve the roster and is open to deals.
“I think if the right deal comes and we have to put in draft picks, we will,” Pelinka said. “We’re now in the apron world. We’ve seen contending teams or championship-level teams have to lose players. That’s a result of the apron world we’re living in. So, does it make trades more challenging? Yes. Does it make good trades impossible? No.”
Bronny’s first Summer League game will be July 12 against Houston on ESPN.
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.