Rookie Bronny James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, the team said in a news release, and ESPN reported the contract is for four years and $7.9 million.
For comparison, the 30th pick (Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman) in this’s year draft is slotted to make $12.1 million over four years, per the rookie contract scale for first-round picks. Last season, GG Jackson, the 45th pick in the second round by Memphis, signed a four-year, $8.5 million contract.
The deal comes on the same day that Bronny’s dad, Lakers superstar LeBron James, reached a two-year, $104 million deal. They are the first father-son combo to play in the NBA at the same time.
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‘Bronny is first and foremost a person of high character,’ Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said. ‘And second, he is a young man that works incredibly hard. And those are the qualities we look for in drafting players and adding to our developmental core with the Lakers.’
The 19-year-old James spent his freshman season at Southern California in 2023-24, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists and shooting 36.6% from the field and 26.7% on 3-pointers in 25 games.
Bronny was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect following sudden cardiac arrest a year ago. He was cleared to play by the NBA’s Fitness to Play Panel.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
