With the start of training camp approaching on Oct. 1, Bronny James is set to take the court for the first time with the Los Angeles Lakers and make his long-awaited debut in the NBA.
Of course, the early-season storyline most basketball fans will be monitoring is when James will play for the first time with his father, LeBron James. They are set to become the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA, which will be quite a scene for their family.
However, it is unclear how new coach JJ Redick will utilize Bronny to begin the year, so it isn’t known when that moment could happen. But ESPN senior NBA writer Zach Lowe predicted on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” that history will be made in the season opener on Oct. 22.
He is 100% playing in the opening game, so that they can have a moment together, right? That is going to happen, so they pass to each other or whatever it ends up being.
Bronny was the 55th pick in the NBA draft after averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 36.6% shooting from the field last season as a freshman at USC. He scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 15 points and three assists on Dec. 30.
The 19-year-old debuted with the Lakers in summer league, averaging seven points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and one steal on 32.7% shooting from the field in six appearances between San Francisco and Las Vegas. He turned in his best game on July 18 with 13 points and five rebounds.
Though Bronny is expected to spend much of his rookie campaign with the South Bay Lakers, it seems likely he’ll log some minutes with his father before the G League season begins on Nov. 8.