Even though it has seemed like forever ago now since the days that LeBron James was not an NBA player, it is inevitable that his career will be coming to a close in due time.
In his 20 seasons in the NBA, he has continued to play at a high level every season from ages 18 to 38. However, as we progress through the next few seasons, LeBron might have his mind set on other goals in the NBA.
The latest ESPN 2024 mock draft indicates that his son, Bronny James, is projected to be a top 10 pick in the draft.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1628416835329597441?s=20
LeBron has made his plans clear about what his primary objective would be when it comes to the possibility of being in the league at the same time as his son.
"Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him. . . But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure. I like to throw things out in the airwaves, but I’m not one to [say] what’s going to happen in the next two to three years. I’d definitely be looking at who got first-round picks in 2024, 2025, things of that nature; 2026, ’27. I pay attention to that type of stuff.”"
Lebron’s future career plans may need to change.
Along with this ambition, LeBron has also said that he believes he can play for a while longer as long as his and motivation is into it.
However, two of the greatest compliments somebody can say about LeBron James are that he is very unselfish on the court and a family man off the court. While he (and Bronny) may appreciate the idea of sharing an NBA memory together, LeBron is not going to want to get in the way of the long-term career of his son.
Prior to this season, there was a more direct response to this situation from LeBron.
"My last year will be played with my son. Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point."
While he has also mentioned that he likes to take in things at the moment, it appears that LeBron has no plans to step on Bronny’s toes for the thick of his NBA career.
Based on the current standings projections that ESPN has laid out for teams next season, it would be the Orlando Magic that would be on track to select the son of the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. This is a team that is already loaded with young talents such as Paolo Banchero, Markelle Fultz, and Franz Wagner.
Orlando would not only get their own draft pick if the season ended today but also the Bulls from the Nikola Vucevic trade. Adding potentially two more top prospects in the draft this summer and the father-son combination in 2024 would make for a scary team two years from today.
Overall, this recent mock draft is showing many NBA fans that Bronny James is performing better than someone who only gets recognition for their father. His play style has proven to be very similar to his dad, which definitely warrants recognition by league insiders.
However, with Bronny’s recent status from the mock draft, it could shorten the window of the career of LeBron James. Many might have believed that it would take several years of college before he would be a candidate for the NBA Draft. But with less than 500 days before his earliest draft eligibility, it appears that Bronny James is taking a page out of his father’s book when it comes to exceeding expectations.