According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic, Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, is reportedly on the verge of signing a guaranteed multi-year rookie contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. It is expected that he will begin his NBA career with the Lakers after being picked as the No. 55 selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.

“Bronny James plans to sign a multiyear guaranteed rookie contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft starts his NBA career on the Lakers roster.” Shams Charania wrote.

After much speculation, Bronny was finally chosen by the Lakers as the 55th pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. This decision drew increased attention from NBA analysts and fans, with some praising and others criticizing the choice. During a recent episode of ESPN Draft Order, Adrian Wojnarowski voiced his support for Bronny, expressing his opposition to NBA fans, who referred to his selection by the Lakers as ‘nepotism.’ Despite this, some fans labeled Bronny as a result of nepotism, claiming he was only chosen by the Lakers because of his father, King James.

Bronny James Speaks Out: Shutting Down Nepotism Accusations

After facing criticism from fans and analysts, Bronny James finally addressed the nepotism accusations during a recent interview on Tuesday before his first training session. He explained that he is no stranger to such claims and has been dealing with them his whole life.

“For sure there’s an amplified amount of pressure. I’ve already seen it on social media and the internet, talk about how I might not deserve an opportunity. But I’ve been dealing with stuff like this my whole life so it’s nothing different. It’s more amplified for sure, but I’ll get through it.” James said.