Never before in the history of the NBA has a father-son duo shared the court. This statement isn’t going to be true anymore. Bronny James, the son of superstar LeBron James is officially a Laker. Rich Paul, James’ agent, made it clear in an interview with Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes that Bronny James would not sign a two-way deal. This might have turned a lot of franchises’ front offices away from Bronny James. Second-draft picks are seldom guaranteed any money, even if they are, it’s a paltry sum. Most 2nd draft picks usually have to sign a two-way contract to gain any minutes in the NBA. 

The NBA sets a rookie wage scale for first-round picks, determining their earnings over four-year contracts based on their draft position. However, this system doesn’t apply to second-round selections. In the 2023 draft, NBA teams gave fully guaranteed, non-two-way contracts to only 15 second-round players, and just three of those came after the 44th pick. In 2022, teams offered guaranteed deals to only 12 second-round players. 

Bronny James has secured a 4-year, $7.9 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, with $4.3 million guaranteed. Whether it’s due to LeBron James’ influence or not, the Lakers have shown full commitment to Bronny’s development and growth within the organization. His contract includes a team option for the 4th year. This means that the Lakers have committed to 3 full seasons for his development. But there is a caveat though, the contract includes trade restriction only until December 15, 2025. If the Lakers are not satisfied with Bronny, he can easily be traded.

“I did not give Bronny anything”- JJ Reddick feels Bronny James deserves this contract

During the Lakers’ rookie press conference, Bronny James couldn’t hide the excitement of being drafted by the team. Describing his week as “surreal,” Bronny reflected on how meaningful the moment felt to him. He expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m extremely grateful for everything that JJ [Redick] and Rob [Pelinka] have given to me. I’ve been extremely excited to get to work.”

But in a moment that revealed the Lakers’ deep belief in Bronny’s potential, head coach JJ Redick quickly stepped in to correct that statement. “Rob and I didn’t give Bronny anything,” Redick said firmly. “Bronny earned this through his hard work. For us, prioritizing player development, we view Bronny as like case study one. His base level of feel, athleticism, point of attack defender, shooting, passing; there’s a lot to like about his game.” This wasn’t just a passing comment—Redick wanted to make it known that Bronny’s spot on the team wasn’t just a courtesy due to his famous father. 

While it may seem like Bronny has always had it easy being Lebron’s son, now that he actually is a Laker, the pressure to perform alongside his father is immense.  “For sure an amplified amount of pressure. I’ve already seen it on social media and stuff on the internet, talking about how I might not deserve an opportunity,” James said. 

Bronny James will not only get the chance to develop his skills with the Lakers, but he could also see significant minutes early in the season. Bronny sees this as a huge advantage, believing that learning from his father—one of the greatest to ever play the game—will smooth his transition into the NBA. The prospect of sharing the court with LeBron isn’t just symbolic; it’s a chance for Bronny to gain real-time lessons and insights from someone who has navigated the pressures of stardom and consistently performed at the highest level.