Bronny James officially made his NBA playoff debut Friday night – for all of 38 seconds. It wasn’t a major moment on the court, but it was still a milestone for the Lakers rookie during a 116-104 loss to the Timberwolves.
Off the court, though, Bronny’s name was everywhere for a completely different reason. And it had less to do with his few seconds of playoff action and more to do with what was happening during Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
As Shedeur Sanders’ unexpected draft slide stretched into the third round, fans on social media couldn’t help but connect the dots. The joke practically wrote itself: Bronny James had officially been drafted higher than Shedeur Sanders – something almost no one saw coming a year ago.
Bronny’s second-round status vs. Shedeur’s Draft Night slide had fans buzzing
It’s an easy comparison to make, given the family ties. Bronny, the son of LeBron James, was picked 55th overall by the Lakers despite a mixed season at USC. Many saw his draft position as a nod to his last name and his father’s public desire to play alongside him before retiring.
Meanwhile, Shedeur, son of NFL legend and Colorado coach Deion Sanders, entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a first-round grade from analysts like ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. But when Friday night wrapped up, Sanders had been passed over more than 100 times.
The reactions online were instant – and brutal. “Bronny James really got drafted higher than Shedeur Sanders,” a fan posted on X, racking up thousands of likes. Others chimed in: “How did Bronny go before Shedeur?” and “More teams passed on Shedeur Sanders than Bronny James.” Even big accounts like Lakers Nation couldn’t resist joining the pile-on.
Still, if there’s anything this week showed, it’s that no matter the spotlight they inherited, both Bronny and Shedeur are working to step out of their fathers’ shadows. Bronny’s minutes might be small now, but they’re a start. Shedeur will get his shot once the draft wraps up Saturday – and after that, it’s on him to prove the doubters wrong.
Their names might have gotten them in the conversation, but their games will decide what comes next.
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