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Bronny James selected by Lakers in NBA draft, joining father LeBron’s team
Bronny James has been selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA draft, joining his father LeBron on the team.
The 19-year-old son of LeBron James and USC freshman guard was projected to be picked by the team since he was the 55th-ranked player in the CBS Sports Prospect Rankings. The Lakers had a pick at No. 55 in the NBA draft’s second round. Bronny James is a 2023 graduate of Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth and was picked by Team USA to play at the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit, according to his USC profile.
He had a season average at USC of 4.8 points, 2.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 steals.
Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
“While it’s no guarantee that Bronny will end up a member of the Lakers on draft night, it appears to be the most likely outcome,” CBS Sports reported earlier, citing mock drafts that projected the Lakers would use the No. 55 pick to select Bronny.
LeBron James, who surpassed fellow Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar last year as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, told ESPN in May of last year that he wanted to play alongside his son.
“I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny,” he said.
But a few months later, the NBA star took a lighter approach and told ESPN that “just because that’s my aspiration or my goal, doesn’t mean it’s his.”
“I’ve done what I’ve had to do in this league, and my son is going to take his journey,” he said.
At the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago last month, Bronny was asked by reporters if he aspired to play alongside his dad.
“No, never,” he answered. “My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and get to the NBA, which is everyone’s end goal that’s here. I never thought about just playing with my dad.”
“But of course he’s brought it up a couple of times,” he said.
On Wednesday, as other players were selected in the draft’s first round, LeBron addressed Bronny and his other son, Bryce, in a heartfelt post to Instagram.
“Pops over here getting emotional as hell just thinking about yall journey so far!,” the NBA star wrote. “Thank you both for allowing me to be your DAD and be apart of your compass through life’s trials and tribulations!”
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Nikki Hiltz, transgender runner, qualifies for U.S. Olympic team after winning 1,500-meter final
American transgender middle-distance runner Nikki Hiltz qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games on Sunday with a record-breaking performance in the women’s 1,500-meter final.
Hiltz finished the race in first place with a final time of 3:55.33 at the U.S. Olympic track & field trials, held at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, surpassing Elle St. Pierre’s 2021 U.S. trials record of 3:58:03.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
In an Instagram post, Hiltz, who uses they/them pronouns, called the moment “a childhood dream of mine” that came true. They went on to thank supporters, saying, “All I know is today I’m waking up just so grateful for my people, overwhelmed by all the love and support, and filled with joy that I get to race people I deeply love and respect around a track for a living.”
This will be the 29-year-old’s first trip to the Olympics. They won a silver medal at the Indoor World Championships earlier this year.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Sunday’s race was on the last day of Pride Month, adding significance to the monumental moment for Hiltz. In a post-race interview with NBC Sports, Hiltz said the accomplishment is “bigger than just me.”
“I wanted to run this for my community,” Hiltz continued, “All of the LGBT folks, yeah, you guys brought me home that last hundred. I could just feel the love and support.”
The 2024 Olympic Games will begin on July 26, 2024, in Paris, France.
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