The Los Angeles Lakers have finally made some moves days after free agency opened. Aside from re-signing LeBron James to a max deal, they also put pen to paper on a contract for his son, second-round pick Bronny James.
Lakers Rookie Signs Four-Year Contract
Contract Structure
According to ESPN, the Lakers signed the younger James to a four-year, $7.9 million deal, with a $2.4 million team option on the final season. Putting him on such a contract ensures that the Lakers can develop him for 2-3 seasons while adding team control in the fourth year. It also allows him to potentially be a bridge between the current roster and a post-LeBron future.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin broke down Bronny’s salary on X:
Structure of Bronny James’ four-year deal:
$1,157,143
$1,955,377
$2,296,271
$2,486,955 (team) https://t.co/4aG9omXKhN
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 3, 2024
Redick and Pelinka: Bronny’s Opportunity Earned, Not Given
With all of the hype that comes around James Jr., head coach JJ Redick emphasized that Bronny earned this opportunity with the Lakers, and it wasn’t given just because his father is their current franchise centerpiece.
“With Bronny, I want to clarify one thing…Rob and I did not give Bronny anything,” Redick said as the Lakers introduced James and Dalton Knecht. “Bronny has earned this…Bronny has earned this through hard work. And for us, prioritizing player development, we view Bronny as case study [no.] 1, because his base level of feel, athleticism, point-of-attack defender, shooting, passing—there’s a lot to like about his game. As we sort of build out our player development program holistically, he’s gonna have a great opportunity to become an excellent NBA player.”
And while James Jr. recognizes there’s an “amplified amount of pressure” when it comes to him joining LeBron and the Lakers, he remains unfazed by it:
“I’ve already seen it, social media, the internet and stuff, talking about how I might not deserve an opportunity. But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life. It’s nothing different—it’s more amplified for sure—but I can get through it.”
How Bronny Will Adjust to the NBA
Redick noted that the incoming player development program will include tactical, physical, and mental growth—areas Bronny could thrive in, especially over the course of a few seasons.
And even though Bronny may have a slight advantage entering the NBA, he noted that his onboarding process with the Lakers won’t be easier than any other newcomer.
“I had my own basketball stuff going on, so I wasn’t really in my dad’s pocket all day, following him around the Lakers facility,” he said. “I’ve had some stories, but I don’t know exactly what’s to come.”
Bronny will now have ample time to develop into his own role and control his own narrative in his first few seasons with the Lakers, both with—and eventually, without—LeBron on the court.
