LeBron James' son Bronny James selected by Los Angeles Lakers as 55th overall pick in the NBA draft

Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, was picked by his father's Lakers with the 55th overall choice in the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday after going undrafted in the first round. If the two players enter the court together, it will be the first time a father and son have played together in NBA history. 

The 6-foot-2 guard from the University of Southern California had been a key talking point going up to the draft. While his last name may account for most of the anticipation, his game has progressively improved over the years to prepare him for this moment.

Despite sharing DNA with one of the greatest basketball players of all time, pundits were not as optimistic about James entering the draft as they were when his father was taken with the first overall choice in 2003 by Cleveland Cavaliers. One explanation for this is James' disappointing rookie season at USC. 

The guard averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting less than 40% from the field. When combined with an underachieving Trojans club, James' first and only season in college did not go as planned.

Bronny James is having heart problem

On July 25, James fainted after having a heart attack during a USC basketball session. He was admitted to the hospital and remained stable for three days before being discharged. The health concern pushed back what was intended to be a buildup to his collegiate season. He didn't get to practice until late November before suiting up in December for his first collegiate game.

Throughout the year, Bronny James shown moments of brilliance. Early in the season, he scored 15 points against Oregon State, which was one of his stronger performances. When James finished his high school career at Sierra Canyon, he was a four-star prospect and a McDonald's All-American. By the end of his high school career, the guard averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.7 steals.