With LeBron James Jr. Nearly Grown, Could Dad’s Preposterous NBA Dream Become Reality?


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LeBron James’s last NBA goal might be to play long enough to take the court with his oldest son. But is Bronny James a legit NBA prospect, and what would it take for the Lakers to turn father and son into teammates?


It’s the time of the year when grainy videos of teenagers playing basketball creep across the Twitter feeds of basketball fans, like young hooping Sasquatches. And one teenager with a familiar name has been the subject of more grainy videos than anybody since Zion Williamson: LeBron James Jr., a.k.a. Bronny:





Perhaps that was because lurking beneath the hype was the premise that someday, LeBron and Bronny would play together in the NBA. It’s not just a theory; it’s something LeBron himself has perpetuated. So far as I can tell, LeBron’s first public mention of his desire to someday team up with his son came in 2018, when Bronny was still in middle school. He’s mentioned it over and over again since, elaborating in February that his plan is to play one season with Bronny, then retire.


But there’s never been a father-son on-court combo. A father has coached a son—Doc and Austin Rivers, although Doc eventually traded Austin away. (He also coached his son-in-law, Seth Curry, who is Steph’s brother and Dell’s son. There are a lot of family relations in the NBA, is my point.) Fathers and sons have played together in MLB, where Ken Griffeys Sr. and Jr. . But it seemed impossible with basketball, as baseball players can extend their careers significantly longer than hoopers. LeBron’s desire to play with his oldest kid would require him to play at least until age 40 in 2024-25—his 22nd season, which would tie Vince Carter’s all-time NBA record. When he said he’d play with his son, it sounded like another one of those outlandish claims LeBron makes that may or may not ever come true. (Let’s not forget he fell not one, not two, not three, not four, but five championships short of his proposed seven titles with the Heat.)



But perhaps it isn’t preposterous. Bronny is nearly grown, and heading into his senior year in high school—while LeBron has remained virtually ageless. It’s time to start wondering: Is LeBron’s paternal pipe dream approaching plausibility?


Or... is it?



https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/8...y-james-lakers