Much has been said about Bronny James joining the Los Angeles Lakers to play alongside his father, LeBron. Drafted with the 55th pick in the second round, Bronny enters a team that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season. The Lakers have an inexperienced coach, a roster that pales in comparison to the talent-laden teams in the Western Conference, and Bronny himself has limited college experience with the USC Trojans. While the move has garnered significant media attention, the Lakers will need to prove their worth on the court as the season progresses.
Today was a significant day for the James family, with both LeBron and Bronny signing contracts. However, the difference between the two deals is substantial. Bronny signed a four-year, $7,895,796 contract, including $5,408,801 guaranteed, with a trade restriction clause preventing any trades until December 15, 2025. This single-season trade restriction suggests that if Bronny doesn’t meet expectations, he could be moved relatively easily. For the sake of the league, let’s hope Bronny isn’t a bust and can achieve even a fraction of his father’s success, which would be more than sufficient.
Bronny is one of 11 rookies who have signed contracts post-draft. The number one pick, Zaccharie Risacher, is expected to sign a similar four-year deal but worth close to $57 million with the Atlanta Hawks. He and the number two pick, Alex Sarr (around $51 million), are the only ones likely to exceed $50 million in their contracts. While Bronny’s NBA contract might not match the financial heft of the higher picks, his endorsements will likely make him the highest earner of his class, thanks to the weight of being LeBron’s son.
LeBron, in contrast, signed a four-year, $18,788,540 contract, fully guaranteed, as the number one pick in 2003 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The difference over the years is stark; Risacher’s over $50 million contract highlights the real impact of inflation. Interestingly, Dalton Knecht, the 17th overall pick, signed a deal similar in value to LeBron’s rookie contract.
Additionally, LeBron and the Lakers have agreed to a two-year, $104 million contract, the maximum he was eligible to sign. With Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell as key partners, we’ll see if the Lakers can catch up to the Boston Celtics as the most successful franchises in NBA history with 18 championships each.
