Lakers' JJ Redick: 'Surreal' to See LeBron, Bronny James Practicing Together in NBA
October 4, 2024
Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have officially opened training camp, LeBron and Bronny James are getting their first formal taste of working together as teammates.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne about the "surreal" experience of seeing the father-son duo playing on the court with each other:
"I mean, you get to coach your own kids when they're little. But he's in the freaking NBA, shooting right over here on this basket with his son. ... They were doing 2-on-2 pick-and-roll drills to start practice against the coaches. One of them's guarding the ball. One of them's guarding the screener. It's surreal."
The Lakers began practicing on Tuesday, with Bronny apparently taking it to his father when they were matched up with each other on the second day of camp.
Anthony Davis told ESPN's Dave McMenamin on Wednesday the 19-year-old rookie hit a three over LeBron that seemed to light a fire under the four-time NBA MVP.
"Everybody was talking smack in Bronny's favor," Davis said. "Then Bron came down and just bullied somebody. Just took it out on [the defender] —I forgot who it was—and got a layup. Bronny came down and hit another 3, I think over Austin [Reaves]. And Bron wanted the ball."
Bronny's role with the Lakers is still being determined, but Redick previously said on The Lowe Post podcast (starts at 1:03:51 mark) that he and LeBron will play together in the same game "sooner rather than later."
In the same interview, Redick suggested Bronny could spend time with the South Bay Lakers in the G League because of the development they need to see from his game.
There is a chance fans could see LeBron and Bronny playing together as soon as Friday night. The Lakers open their preseason schedule against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Acrisure Arena in Phoenix.
Redick confirmed on Thursday that LeBron and Davis will get some playing time in the preseason opener.
The Lakers will also host the Timberwolves in the regular-season opener for both teams on Oct. 22 at Crypto.com Arena.
