A father-son duo playing on the same NBA team is starting to look like a real possibility.
Dan Wokie of The Los Angeles Times reported that the Los Angeles Lakers worked out Bronny James on Thursday, the son of their current star and NBA legend LeBron James.
According to Wokie, the "athleticism, defensive potential and shooting" that Bronny James displayed at the NBA draft combine has peaked the interest of the Lakers.
LeBron James, who can become a free agent this summer by opting out of his player option, will be entering his 22nd NBA season this fall. If Bronny James plays in the NBA next season, they would be the first father-son duo in the league simultaneously as players. There have been many instances in NBA history of players joining the league after their fathers played, but none at the same time.
LeBron James said many times in recent years that he would like to play in the league alongside his son, and it certainly remains a possibility that a team that drafts Bronny James might do so with hopes of luring his father to that roster.
“The kid has to do what he wants to do — and I don’t even want to say kid no more — the young man will decide what he wants to do and how he wants his career to go,” LeBron James said when the Lakers’ season ended earlier this spring.
Bronny James played one year of college basketball at Southern California and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season. He played in 25 games, missing the start of the season after needing a procedure last year to fix what was diagnosed as a congenital heart defect, which was found after he went into cardiac arrest during a summer workout.
A panel of doctors cleared Bronny James for NBA play in early May.
The NBA draft is set for June 26-27, the first time in league history the event has been spread out over two days.
— With files from the Associated Press
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