Bronny James, the son of superstar LeBron James, was a highly anticipated player before the NBA 2024 draft. Despite the hype, the 19-year-old was not selected in the draft’s first round. Instead, the Los Angeles Lakers selected James with the 55th overall pick in the second round. Nevertheless, Bronny has quickly garnered a notable fanbase. Recently, his game-worn jersey was auctioned off for an unexpectedly high price, which shocked many.
During the Sotheby’s “Summer League Selects” auction, James’ Summer League jersey was sold for $38,400, exceeding the expected price range of $6,000-$10,000. The price surpassed those of other players’ Summer League jerseys, with the No. 1 draft pick, Zaccharie Risacher’s jersey selling for $3,360 and the No. 3 pick, Reed Sheppard’s jersey, selling for $15,600.
After he was drafted, James received heavy criticism from basketball fans who suspected that his selection was influenced by his father, LeBron James, and accused the team of nepotism. Despite the criticism, James is gaining popularity, which is reflected in the price of his Summer League jersey.
Lakers Owner Praises LeBron James and Bronny James
Bronny and LeBron James will be playing as a father-son duo in the upcoming basketball season, which is set to begin on October 22. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is very excited to see the duo playing together on the court. In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, she praised James and expressed her anticipation of witnessing their dominance.
“I think LeBron and Bronny are very prepared for this. And I’m excited just for them to have this opportunity. But Bronny is a good player. I’m excited to see what our new coach, JJ Redick, has in store. It’s definitely gonna be an interesting season for sure.” Buss said.
Bronny and LeBron are set to make history as the first-ever father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time. This fulfills LeBron’s longtime wish to play alongside his son before retirement. It will be a fascinating sight for fans to witness.
Also Read: VIDEO: Savannah James Playfully Pokes Fun At Son Bronny James Over His Music Taste
