Report: Bronny James signs four-year, $7.9 million contract with Los Angeles Lakers

Less than one week after being selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 55 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny James has officially put pen to the paper with the organization. Signing a four-year, $7.9 million contract with the Lakers on Wednesday that includes a team option in the fourth season according to NBA insider Shams Charania.

James’ draft selection teamed him up with his father and NBA legend LeBron James ahead of the 22nd season of his legendary career. Becoming the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time in league history and on the same team. With Bronny’s signing also coming hours after LeBron signed a two-year, $104 million maximum deal to return to Los Angeles.

Second round NBA Draft selections typically earn themselves two-way contracts following strong showings in the NBA Summer League and during training camps. But James’ agent Rich Paul made it clear in May that his client would not being signing a two-way contract heading into his rookie season.

“Yes, that’s absolutely true,” Paul said. “Teams know that. I’m not doing that.”

Following last year’s NBA Draft another client of Paul’s also signed a guaranteed contract. With Chris Livingston signing a four-year, $7.6 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks after being the last selection in the final round of the 2023 NBA Draft. A draft where Jalen Pickett also signed a four-year guaranteed contract with the Denver Nuggets after being selected No. 32 overall in the second round.

Bronny stays in Los Angeles after spending one season at USC in his college career and playing high school basketball at Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth. Averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game as a role player for the Trojans who appeared in 25 total games and made six starts last college basketball season. Missing the first eight games of the year and starting off the season on a minutes restriction after suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest in the summer during one of USC’s offseason workouts.

In his senior year of high school James averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Named a McDonald’s All-American, rated a four-star prospect, and ranking as the No. 25 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

In 2003 LeBron James signed his first NBA contract heading into his rookie season in the NBA. A four-year, $18.8 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers a year before Bronny James as born. As the two now look ahead at their first season sharing the floor together 21 years later after Bronny signs the first contract of his NBA career.