Fans have excitedly anticipated Bronny James wearing the Lakers’ purple and gold since he was taken as the 55th choice. As a particular touch, the Lakers photographed Bronny with his parents, LeBron and Savannah James. This classic image has gone viral on social media, even catching the attention of James’ former colleague, Dwyane Wade.
LeBron and Savannah James arrived in person to support their son, Bronny, and took some shots that fans enjoyed. Dwyane Wade was astounded to learn that both his father and son are now in the NBA, playing on the same team.
The Miami Heat icon was impressed and left a four-word caption on his Instagram story. This has made the rookie’s media day even more exciting, with Wade adding to the frenzy. He wrote, “This is cold af,” and tagged a former colleague.
Dwyane Wade loving Bronny's Lakers photoshoot with his parents, LeBron and Savannah…
"This is cold AF" pic.twitter.com/u69c4SpJt4
— Kit Espina (@KeithEspino22) July 4, 2024
Dalton Knecht and Bronny James have officially donned the LA Lakers jerseys, and while they have yet to take the court, this alone has fans excited for the forthcoming season.
During a press conference, Bronny and Knecht were joined by head coach JJ Redick. Redick responded to rumours about LeBron James’ role in picking Bronny, claiming that the 19-year-old earned his spot on the roster. However, this was not the event’s sole highlight.
Bronny James signing a multi-year contract
Bronny has agreed to a multi-year guaranteed contract with the Lakers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The four-year contract is for $7.9 million and includes a team option for the fourth season.
With this contract, Bronny James will join the Lakers’ roster for the 2024-25 season, establishing his spot alongside his father, LeBron James.
Typically, second-round draft picks are not given guaranteed contracts. Instead, they must frequently perform well in NBA Summer League and team training camps to get a position, sometimes settling for a two-way contract.
Rich Paul, James’ agent, said in an interview with Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report that his client would not sign a two-way contract.
This is not the first time a second-round pick has signed a guaranteed deal.
It is not unusual for a second-round pick to get a guaranteed contract. Last year, Jalen Pickett, the Denver Nuggets’ 32nd pick, received a four-year, $8.2 million contract with a $5.8 million guarantee.
In a similar scenario, Chris Livingston of the Milwaukee Bucks, taken as the last pick in the second round of the same draft, agreed to a four-year, $7.6 million contract with the Bucks, with $3 million guaranteed. It’s worth mentioning that Livingston’s agent, Rich Paul, also represents him, demonstrating Paul’s clout in NBA circles.
A major storyline in Bronny James’ route to the NBA revolves around his renowned father and his doubts about his own abilities. As LeBron’s teammate on a championship-caliber team, he is well aware of the increased pressure that awaits him.
Dwyane Wade’s son
Dwyane Wade, like LeBron James, dreamed of seeing his son play in the NBA.
Dwyane Wade’s 22-year-old son, Zaire, moved to Africa in 2023. Following his spell with Salt Lake City in the 2022 G-League, he signed with the Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball African League for the season.
Eventually, he left the BAL to join the ASEAN Basketball League in April of this year. Given Zaire’s journey, the NBA may not be the most imminent destination right now. Nonetheless, it’s important not to underestimate the young Flash.
