Even with the high likelihood that LeBron James re-signs with the Los Angeles Lakers, there may be no single player’s opinion that matters more to the franchise currently than Anthony Davis.
With James set to turn 40 this year, Davis has been a focal point since the team acquired him via trade, but he’s also the future face of the franchise. And when the Lakers opted to select Bronny James, son of LeBron, with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Davis had plenty of praise for his new teammate, as ESPN’s Dave McMenamin revealed.
“He’s very good defensively,” Davis told ESPN. “He can read the floor very well. I think he’s a really good playmaker. I saw him work out a couple times besides the [Klutch Sports] pro day and working with a big — his reads, reading the defense, making the right passes — that was really impressive to me. I think he’s going to be fine, man. Obviously it’s a lot of pressure on him with his dad being who he is.”
Davis appreciated the fact Bronny seems to want to create his own path in the NBA and not solely be seen as the son of one of the NBA’s greatest players in history. Beyond that, the nine-time All-Star sounded as though he wouldn’t be surprised if his new teammates is ready to come in and make an impact early on.
“But one thing about Bronny, from what I’ve seen and what I heard, he wants to create his own path and he doesn’t want to be — even though he’s LeBron James’ son, he don’t want be seen as that. And I think having that mindset and trying to create his own path is going to work out for him. … Who knows, he might come in and be ready to play for us.”
While the former USC guard is likely to spend the bulk of his rookie season continuing to develop his game, the upside and talent is undeniable. The younger James showcased an impressive defensive ability in his lone collegiate season and impressed with his shooting during pre-draft workouts.
Regardless of his 2024-25 season outlook, there’s a high likelihood that Bronny and LeBron will make NBA history as the first father and son to share the floor together.
While the older James is expected to opt out of the final year of his deal, it’s hard to envision any world where he leaves the Lakers at this point and misses the opportunity to play with his son.
