Bronny James was officially unveiled as the Los Angeles Lakers’ newest member on Tuesday, with the team’s 2024 first-round choice, Dalton Knecht.
As part of the normal obligations ascribed to a recent draft pick, the 19-year-old James fielded media questions while his father, LeBron James, watched from the crowd. Later Tuesday afternoon, James took photos in his new No. 9 Lakers jersey for the first time.
James, who averaged 4.8 points per game in 25 games during his lone collegiate season at USC, was taken by Los Angeles with the No. 55 choice in the 2024 NBA draft on Thursday. If he makes the Lakers’ roster, he and LeBron will be the first father-son tandem to share an NBA court in history.
First look at Bronny in Lakers’ threads 🧵 pic.twitter.com/UJRITf6XrD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 2, 2024
“It’s been surreal,” James told the media Tuesday. “Just trying to soak it all in… I am extremely appreciative for everything JJ [Redick] and Rob [Pelinka] have given me. I’ve just been so excited to go to work.”
James chose the No. 9 jersey in honor of the late rapper Juice WRLD, who had a “999” tattoo that represented turning a bad into a good.
“Juice has just been a big part of me keeping calm in some situations that I’ve been through,” James told reporters. “Paying homage to him, especially because he passed, is really important to me.”
James will get his first opportunity to display his abilities in a Lakers competition during the upcoming NBA Summer League. The Lakers will take on the Sacramento Kings in the first game of the California Classic on July 6 at Chase Center in San Francisco.
