Plenty of NBA fans have their own theories about the Lakers' selection of Bronny James in the second round of the NBA Draft, but a video released Friday reveals precisely what attracted the franchise to the former USC guard beyond his legendary father.
The Lakers posted footage that takes fans inside the moment they called James to inform him he was being selected, featuring words from newly-hired coach JJ Redick and GM Rob Pelinka.
While it was a monumental moment for James, who suffered life-threatening cardiac arrest less than a year ago, the 19-year-old likely wasn't surprised at the news. Agent Rich Paul reportedly angled to have the Lakers select his client, telling teams picking ahead of Los Angeles in the second round to stay away.
Still, the call provides some insight regarding what the Lakers see in LeBron James' son.
Here's a look at what Redick and Pelinka told James when they drafted him.
MORE: How LeBron James reacted to son Bronny's selection
Bronny James NBA Draft call from Lakers
Pelinka and Redick spoke to James for about a minute before they made the pick official on Thursday, with each offering plenty of praise for the former USC guard.
"You've worked incredibly hard, man. You've put in a ton of work," Pelinka told James, adding that the second-rounder's work ethic "means a lot to us."
It doesn't come as any surprise that the Lakers were impressed by James' work ethic, as his father has put in relentless work to keep his body in premier NBA shape for the last 21 seasons. The younger James showed resolve by working his way back from cardiac arrest in just a few months.
"You're a player of high character and a person of high character," Pelinka continued.
Behind the call for pick No. 55 📞 pic.twitter.com/Dcn1nnwLlU
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 28, 2024
Redick, just a few days into his job as head coach of the Lakers, praised James' work ethic as well and set the bar high with his expectations.
"Your hard work's paid off. You're going to have a long NBA career and I can't wait to coach you," Redick said.
Redick has no NBA coaching experience, which makes it even more fascinating to watch how he handles the dynamic of the league's first-ever father-son duo. While it's unclear how much time the younger James will be spending at the NBA level as a rookie, the Lakers are expecting him to come in and compete hard for a spot.
"We'll see you soon, Bronny. The work begins," Pelinka said before ending the call.
James could see the floor as early as the Lakers' Summer League slate, which begins on July 12 in Las Vegas.
