LeBron James sat on a balcony above the practice facility at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where the U.S. team is holding training camp ahead of the Summer Olympics, answering questions as an Olympian and as a member of the Lakers.
After walking down the stairs and being handed a cell phone containing Bronny James’ first summer league goal, he became a father.
“Oh man, that’s tough. That’s tough,” James said with a big grin on his face after hitting play. “Relax.”
James’ mind was in several places at once on Saturday. He had just finished his first practice with Team USA, basketball’s equivalent of the “Avengers,” a group that includes Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis and the rest of the NBA’s biggest American stars.
But in San Francisco, James’ son, Bronny, made his professional debut with the Lakers in the California Classic against the Sacramento Kings.
James said people shouldn’t read anything into Bronny’s performance this summer about how it will affect his long-term value. He said summer basketball is more about adapting.
“I just [him to get] “He’s still new to the NBA — the pace of the game, the speed, the physicality of it all,” James said, “but whatever he does in the California Classic or summer league, whether he plays well or not, it doesn’t matter. We just want him to continue to develop, whether it’s practices, film sessions, individual training.”
“You can’t carry over his performances from the California Classic or the Summer League into the season statistically. All that matters is that he continues to get better and continue to perform well.”
James still seemed emotional when talking about his son being drafted 55th overall by the Lakers, calling it a “dream come true for me.”
“It’s always been a dream of his to see his son play in the NBA on his own,” James said, “and now we’re right there next to him, I’m honestly speechless. I don’t know. This kid has worked so hard to get back to this point. A lot has happened with him this past year. To have this happen less than a year after retiring.” [cardiac arrest] When his name was announced after the incident, along with his friends and family, it felt very surreal.”
James also sounded positive about the Lakers’ two big moves this summer: hiring new head coach JJ Redick and selecting Dalton Knecht with the 17th overall pick in the draft.
“Dalton was my favorite player in college basketball next to Bronny,” James said.
The Lakers haven’t made any other notable moves, but James didn’t criticize the team’s poor performance so far.
“For me personally, my only mindset is that no matter who’s there, I’m going to be back and ready to go to work every day,” he said.
“That’s just who I am. That’s always been who I am. … When I get to that stage, I’ll still be wearing the jersey, the shorts the same, my job won’t change, so I’m excited for that to happen.”
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This article originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
