Many claims surfaced the other day regarding that it was LeBron James himself who “forced the Lakers” to sign his son Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft. That hypothetical move, considered an act of “nepotism” by the legendary player, took a sharp turn this week as new reports dismantle this assumption.
It has been NBA insider Ramona Shelburne has clarified that the reality behind the scenes was not how it was stated.
“They thought LeBron would like that”
According to Shelburne while speaking on the Mason & Ireland Show, neither LeBron James nor his agent, Rich Paul, ever explicitly requested that the Lakers draft Bronny. Instead, the decision seems to have been a proactive move by the Lakers’ leadership, specifically Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka, to satisfy the team’s franchise cornerstone.
“I don’t think LeBron asked the Lakers to draft Bronny. I think they did it because they thought LeBron would like that.
A recent report by ESPN’sBaxter Holmes suggested a growing tension between LeBron and Jeanie Buss. According to the report, Buss felt James was “ungrateful” for the gesture of drafting his son, a move she privately felt was a significant favor to the four-time champion.
After this claims arised, LeBron James remained calm. He made it clear that he is no longer affected nor interested in what media-driven narratives say:
“I don’t really care about articles… I’m 41 years old, and I watch golf every day. I don’t care how somebody feels about me. If you know me personally, you know what I’m about.
Buss, on her side, issued a statement via The Athletic calling the reports “unfair” to LeBron and emphasizing her appreciation for what he has brought to the franchise.
Who were the other suitors for Bronny James?
On his claims, Shelburne revealed that three other Western Conference powerhouses were closely monitoring Bronny’s draft status. These other teams were:
- The Golden State Warriors: Known for their strategic front office, the Warriors reportedly liked Bronny’s skill set and considered taking him to potentially lure LeBron to San Francisco.
- The Dallas Mavericks: General Manager Nico Harrison, who has a long-standing “uncle-like” relationship with Bronny, reportedly had the Mavericks ready to pounce.
- The Phoenix Suns: The Suns brought Bronny in for multiple workouts and were high on his defensive potential.
However, despite the interest of other powerhouses, in October 2024, LeBron and Bronny became the first father and son to share an NBA court.
Read the full article here
