Lakers get major Bronny James update before season opener vs. Warriors originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into their first season without LeBron James in almost a decade, so things will be different for the organization. Still, the team will have his son, Bronny James, on the roster for his third season as an NBA guard.
The two made NBA history together but will now be on separate teams. For the younger James, it is all about making a name for himself now that his dad is in Philadelphia.
“You guys know me as Bronny. My real name is LeBron. I've been doing this for however long, so I think it's a motivating factor for me just getting up every day and trying to prove myself as Bronny instead of LeBron,” he said.
The Lakers are opening the season on Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors, officially ushering in a new era. James is hoping to carve out a role for himself. However, on Monday, he didn’t practice due to an illness.
“Am told that Bronny James is genuinely ill and was home sick from practice,” The Athletic’s Dan Woike wrote.
With this development, James’ status for Wednesday’s opener was unclear, as the severity of his illness was not immediately known. The Lakers needed James in the first round of the playoffs last season when they were thin on available players. Both sides are hoping he will develop as the season progresses so he can earn key minutes. James was back at practice Tuesday and is good to go for Wednesday.
“Bronny James is back at practice after being excused from yesterday's session because of an illness,” California Post’s Khobi Price wrote.
It will be intriguing to see how many minutes James plays in his third season and whether he can contribute in a bigger way. His future with the Lakers could depend on how he performs this season, making it an important year for him to prove himself.
The Lakers will be led by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but the question is where James fits into the rotation. With James back from his illness, Wednesday’s opener could offer an early glimpse into the Lakers’ plans for him.
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