As the NBA draft kicks off today, the burning question on everyone’s mind is; Which team will land LeBron James’ son, Bronny James? The superstar’s eldest son has been the center of attention ever since he entered the NBA draft this year. But where is the 19-year-old player headed?

On “Undisputed,” Paul Pierce offered an unexpected take. “If the Lakers don’t draft him at #17, they better hope the Celtics don’t get him at #30. Think about Bronny on the Celtics; he gets the tutelage of Jrue Holiday for the next three years. Holiday is a high IQ, elite defender, about the same size… That might not be a bad thing, to be behind Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.” Playing for the 2024 NBA champions happens to be Bronny’s dream. The player himself has admitted to wanting to model his play after Holiday and White.

Last month, after the NBA combine, Bronny, a guard himself, compared his game to iconic guards like Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Donovan Mitchell, as reported by ESPN’s Jamal Collier. Bronny felt that all these players had a key role to play in their teams’ wins and he aspired to become that.

Many would assume that the young player would follow in his dad’s footsteps, but Bronny’s response has made it clear that he wished to carve a name for himself. “I would be happy about getting to the league instead of thinking about playing with my dad,” Bronny said. “That’s not my mindset at all. I’m just trying to put in the work and see where it takes me from there.” But what about LeBron’s wishes?

via Imago

LeBron has explicitly said that he wishes to play alongside his son before he retires. But it seems that he may have shifted his stance recently. After the Laker’s elimination, he made it clear that ultimately, Bronny’s future lies in his own hands. What does Bronny James want?

Will the LA Lakers witness a father-son union between LeBron James & Bronny?

LeBron James hits free agency soon and the LA Lakers are reportedly doing everything in their power to retain their superstar. If drafting his son would help as leverage, the team might try to orchestrate an acquisition.

The Lakers hold a #17 and #55 pick in the 2024 draft. While it is unlikely they would use the #17 pick, they might consider him in the second round. ESPN’s final mock draft projected the Lakers to land Bronny with their #55 pick.

Aside from LA, the Phoenix Suns have also shown interest in the young player. But what does Bronny’s team have in mind? According to ESPN analyst Adrian Wojnarowski, “Rich Paul’s goal in the pre-draft process for Bronny James is to find the right developmental system or organization that can nurture a young player like Bronny James.”

This is not the first time Rich Paul has made it clear that Bronny will not be settling. He told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, “I got the word out early to teams that if you plan on bringing Bronny in, here’s what you need to know: If you won’t give him a real deal, there’s nothing to talk about. It’s hard to get real development on a two-way deal. I don’t care about him going to the Lakers, or Phoenix, or about what number he gets picked. It’s about fit.”

As the draft unfolds, all eyes will be on Bronny. Will the young player follow in his father’s footsteps and continue his legacy or will he choose the tougher path and make a name for himself? Only time can tell.