Lakers rookie Bronny James says chance to play with his dad didn’t play a role in entering NBA draft

Bronny James says the opportunity to play professionally alongside his famous father played no role in his decision to enter the NBA draft.
Now that the 19-year-old son of LeBron James has been selected by the Los Angeles Lakers anyway, Bronny says he can still handle all the extra attention and pressure while the James family makes basketball history.
“I'm ... trying to get my name out for myself," Bronny said on July 2, 2024. "I just want to come in and get my work in and get better every day. 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.”
The Lakers formally introduced Bronny James and their first-round pick, Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht, in a news conference at their training complex. Los Angeles selected Bronny with the 55th overall pick last week, creating the potential for an NBA first.
No father and son have ever played in the league at the same time, let alone on the same team.
“It’s for sure amplified the amount of pressure,” Bronny James 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 reiterated that he didn't jump to the NBA just because his 39-year-old father is still an active player, acknowledging he didn't necessarily share his father's oft-stated dream of playing in the league together. Bronny also knew he couldn't control where he was drafted, despite what he's read on social media recently about the Lakers' pick being a nepotistic effort to keep LeBron James with the Lakers for the rest of his career.
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