EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — When LeBron James left the Los Angeles Lakers in free company, he consulted his household on the choice to signal with the Philadelphia 76ers. However when it got here to his son and teammate Bronny, a lot was apparently left unsaid.
“We’re males of little or no phrases in the case of speaking about enterprise and what we will do and the way we really feel about one another. So, it wasn’t actually a lot [discussion] to be trustworthy with you,” Bronny James mentioned Monday at Lakers media day.
“He is received his personal path, and I received my very own. He is aware of that I need to make a reputation for myself, and I need to proceed my profession and continue to grow as a participant. And he is aware of that I need to deal with that. So, he determined to do this.”
LeBron and Bronny have routinely been in distinctive conditions in league historical past. Whether or not it was opening evening two years in the past, when the father-and-son duo entered the sport collectively or final season within the playoffs, once they mixed to ship a 10-0 run throughout a victory over the Houston Rockets. Navigating a posh free company the place the daddy leaves and the son stays is one other one for the books.
Bronny James, whose $2.3 million contract for this season is assured, mentioned that he has spent the summer time specializing in his position backing up Lakers guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Bronny performed in 42 video games final season and eight playoff video games.
“You guys know me as Bronny. My actual identify is LeBron. I have been doing this for nevertheless lengthy,” Bronny James mentioned. “It is a motivating issue for me simply getting up day-after-day and making an attempt to show myself as Bronny as an alternative of LeBron.”
Although LeBron and Bronny may not have spoken concerning the transfer a lot, Bronny needs his father effectively and is wanting ahead to the primary time the Lakers face the 76ers this season, on Christmas in L.A.
“I am comfortable for him and excited to see the place their season goes,” Bronny James mentioned. “I am excited to see him on Christmas. I am excited to play in opposition to him on Christmas, in order that’s going to be good.”
Not having LeBron is a major adjustment for the Lakers and his son. L.A. has 9 new gamers and is making an attempt to deal with this season and never on the previous. It’s the begin of the primary season with out LeBron since 2017-18.
“It was type of unhappy [that he left]; taking part in with LeBron was superb,” Doncic mentioned about James’ departure. “There’s plenty of issues I discovered from him, and everyone knows who LeBron James is. We hung out collectively, and it was superb.”
