The basketball world awaits a historic pairing between LeBron and Bronny in the NBA

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We’re counting down 24 key storylines for the 2024-25 NBA season. Our senior analysts will analyze a new topic each day as we help you prepare for opening night on October 22nd.

Here’s the plot No. 23:

How often will the PA announcer call a “James to James” assist during Lakers games?

The heartwarming basketball story awaits you as a James connects with a James, followed by a kiss, a hug, a pat on the head or any other form of love expressed between them.

This will be something special. LeBron James will line up alongside Bronny and share the Lakers’ court at some point, basketball gods willing. Any debate about the readiness of Bronny, the 55th pick in June’s draft, is just noise at this point.

A father is going to play basketball with his son. In the NBA. Nothing else matters.

Now if you’re asking how often this will happen, then that’s your debate.

Once is enough to make NBA history. Dozens of times seems to be some reach, at least in Bronny’s rookie season. That’s because his type – young players who lack experience and need to develop – tend to either (a) sit on the bench and gossip or (b) spend time in the G League.

The most realistic and sensible approach with Bronny is to allow growth on his own schedule, giving him just enough exposure to the big leagues to whet his appetite, but otherwise letting him work on his game in the lab.

This plan seems ideal to free him from all pressure and urgency, quell all stupid expectations and hype, and keep everything organic. Leave his ultimate fate to him and the three Ds – Desire, Determination and Discipline.

Once father and son have their moment, the circus will leave town anyway and the glory will return where it belongs – to the four-time champion who continues to defy age. More than anything, LeBron prepared himself to experience this with his son by staying in top shape and playing at a high level for two decades. For this he is rightly rewarded in several ways.

As for Bronny? His contract is guaranteed for at least three seasons. But second-round picks have great opportunities to crack rotations during their NBA careers, which are typically short.

He has a solid feel for the nuances of the game, seems generally healthy for his age and has good defensive instincts. Ultimately, he will need improved offensive play to get minutes and more playing time with his father. Someone his size (6’3″) needs a consistent outside shot and the ability to beat his man off the dribble.

Having LeBron as a father puts you in the spotlight. That’s why a first father-son connection is being planned. The rest is up to Bronny.

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Shaun Powell has been covering the NBA for more than 25 years. You can send him an email Herefind his archive here And Follow him on X.

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