Bronny James will now wear the No. 9 jersey when he takes the floor with his father, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers, marking a historic moment for the franchise. This announcement came after the Lakers selected Bronny as the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. His jersey will display his name as “James Jr.,” paying tribute to his famous father.
During his high school and college career, Bronny wore different jersey numbers, opting for No. 0 in high school and No. 6 during his brief time at USC. The No. 6 was a nod to his father’s number, but it is no longer available in the NBA due to being retired in honor of Bill Russell. Currently, LeBron wears the No. 23 jersey for the Lakers.
Bronny will be the 16th Lakers player to don the No. 9 jersey, following in the footsteps of former players like Nick Van Exel, Matt Barnes, Luol Deng, and Rajon Rondo. Van Exel, in particular, expressed excitement about Bronny adopting his former number. Another player selected by the Lakers in the draft, Dalton Knecht, will wear the No. 4 jersey, providing a fun pun with his last name.
Despite facing setbacks due to health issues and a challenging college season, Bronny is determined to make a name for himself in the NBA. With his basketball lineage and the support of his father, he is poised to carve his own path in the league. While some may question the reasons behind the Lakers drafting Bronny, his potential and talent speak volumes about his future in the NBA.