LeBron James has long expressed his desire to play with or against his son, Bronny James, in the NBA. As the 2024 NBA Draft approaches, the anticipation around Bronny’s future grows, with particular interest in whether this might influence LeBron’s career decisions.

The Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron’s current team, have shown interest in drafting Bronny. The prospect of securing both Jameses is tempting for many teams, as drafting Bronny could potentially attract LeBron. However, recent reports from Shams Charania indicate that LeBron is unlikely to leave the Lakers solely to join whichever team drafts his son.

Charania stated, “It would not surprise me in the coming weeks, if a team does reach out to Rich Paul or anyone else around Bronny James or LeBron James himself, and says, ‘Hey if we draft Bronny James, would you come as well LeBron?’ And the answer to that is going to be no, as of right now.’” This stance is reassuring for the Lakers, who are facing a crucial off-season. They must retain LeBron, who has a player option this summer, find a new head coach after firing Darvin Ham, and improve their roster to remain competitive in the Western Conference.

Despite the current indication that LeBron won’t automatically follow Bronny to another team, it remains a potential leverage tactic. Meanwhile, Bronny himself has expressed that his primary goal is to make a name for himself in the NBA, rather than specifically playing alongside his father. “My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and get to the NBA, which is everyone’s end goal that’s here,” Bronny said at the NBA Draft Combine. “I never thought about just playing with my dad. But of course, he’s brought it up a couple of times.”

For the Lakers, drafting Bronny in the second round could be a strategic move. It would please LeBron, poses minimal risk, and Bronny might develop into a valuable defensive player. However, if another team drafts Bronny before the Lakers have the chance, it appears LeBron won’t immediately join that team. This information is crucial for the Lakers as they navigate their off-season decisions, balancing the need to maintain their star player with the potential to add his son to their roster.