The Los Angeles Lakers are keeping score with LeBron James, and one of the things they reportedly believe is still a huge factor working for them is the “favor” they did for the aging star by selecting Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft. That is what Dave McMenamin wrote in his assessment of the upcoming free agency saga between the two sides.
“And for James to not understand the franchise’s position in catering to [Luka] Doncic while also disregarding the fact that the Lakers had maintained a spot for not only him, but his son Bronny, could be viewed as obtuse at best and disingenuous at worst.”
Let’s stop right there.
Who are the Lakers trying to fool by implying that Bronny has not been one of their best draft picks in recent years? They have a notable list of failures from the last few NBA Drafts. The younger of the two James on the team is far from one of them.
In fact, there is a strong case for Bronny being the best pick the Lakers have made since 2023. The front office and management would be lying by suggesting they are not gaining from selecting James with the 55th pick in the 2024 draft.
Bronny has steadily improved over the last two seasons within the Lakers’ developmental system. He saw minutes off the bench in the postseason this year. Not only did he get playing time, but he showed tremendous bursts of upside in those opportunities.
Let’s break down the Lakers’ recent draft history, why the “favor” narrative is tired, and why Bronny James might actually be one of the few bright spots in a sea of misses.
The Lakers’ Draft History: A Story of Missed Opportunities
Let’s start with the evidence.
The Lakers have not been good at drafting. That’s not an opinion. That’s a fact.
2022 NBA Draft: The Lakers selected Max Christie in the second round. That was a home run. Christie became a pivotal part of the trade package for Luka Doncic. He’s a legitimate NBA rotation player. That was their last proven win in the NBA Draft.
2023 NBA Draft: The Lakers selected Jalen Hood-Schifino. That move spurred plenty of regret. While the former Lakers guard struggled to accomplish much of anything in Los Angeles, the players taken immediately after him – players like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Brandin Podziemski, and Cam Whitmore – turned into contributors for their teams.
2024 NBA Draft: The Lakers selected Dalton Knecht in the first round. Knecht has played his way out of JJ Redick’s rotation throughout his two years in Los Angeles. Similarly to Hood-Schifino, Pelinka and company missed out on several strong contributors who were taken right after Knecht.
2025 NBA Draft: The Lakers selected Adou Thiero. Thiero has plenty of upside, but there are just few proven results so far from a largely developmental year in his first season.
And then there’s Bronny James. Selected with the 55th pick in the 2024 draft. The last pick of the second round. The guy everyone said was only there because of his dad.
The Bronny Evolution: From Nepotism Pick to Rotation Player
Let’s talk about what Bronny has actually done.
When the Lakers drafted Bronny, the narrative was clear: this was a favor to LeBron. A sweetener to keep the King happy. A public relations move disguised as a basketball decision.
But then something happened. Bronny got to work.
He spent time in the G League. He worked on his game. He got stronger. He got more confident.
By his second season, Bronny was seeing minutes off the bench in the playoffs. Not garbage time. Real minutes. In the postseason.
And in those minutes, he showed flashes. He defended. He made smart plays. He didn’t look overwhelmed.
He’s not a star. He’s not even a starter. But he’s a legitimate rotation player – the kind of player you’re thrilled to get with the 55th pick.
The Comparison: Bronny vs. The Other Recent Picks
Let’s put Bronny’s production in context.
Max Christie (2022, 2nd round): A win. A legitimate rotation player. Traded for Luka Doncic.
Jalen Hood-Schifino (2023, 1st round): A bust. Out of the league or barely playing.
Dalton Knecht (2024, 1st round): A disappointment. Played his way out of the rotation.
Adou Thiero (2025, 1st round): Too early to tell. Developmental year. Potential, but unproven.
Bronny James (2024, 2nd round, 55th overall): A contributor. Playoff minutes. Upside. Exceeding expectations.
By any objective measure, Bronny has been one of the Lakers’ best draft picks in the last four years. That’s not nepotism. That’s not a favor. That’s a scouting win.
The “Favor” Narrative: Who Is Fooling Whom?
Let’s go back to McMenamin’s reporting.
McMenamin suggested that LeBron would be “obtuse” or “disingenuous” if he didn’t appreciate the Lakers’ “favor” of drafting Bronny.
But here’s the thing: the Lakers didn’t do LeBron a favor. They made a smart basketball decision that has paid off.
Bronny is a legitimate NBA player. He’s not a star, but he’s a rotation piece. For the 55th pick in the draft, that’s a massive win.
The Lakers’ front office would be lying if they suggested they are not gaining from selecting James. They are gaining. They have a young, developing guard who can defend, play within a system, and contribute to winning basketball.
If anything, the Lakers should be thanking LeBron for raising a son who turned out to be an actual NBA talent.
The LeBron Factor: Why Bronny’s Success Matters
Let’s talk about the bigger picture.
LeBron James has been the face of the Lakers for eight years. He’s won a championship. He’s broken records. He’s been a model of professionalism.
He also asked the Lakers to draft his son. That’s not unreasonable. Other players have done the same. The difference is that most of those players’ sons weren’t actually NBA-caliber.
Bronny is.
The Lakers didn’t do LeBron a favor. They made a basketball decision that happened to align with LeBron’s wishes. And it’s working out.
If the Lakers try to use Bronny as leverage in contract negotiations – “Look at what we did for you!” – they’re being disingenuous. They didn’t do LeBron a favor. They made a good pick.
The Adou Thiero Question: Potential vs. Production
Let’s not forget about Adou Thiero.
Thiero was the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2025. He has plenty of upside. He’s athletic. He’s long. He has the tools to be a good defender.
But he’s also unproven. He spent most of his rookie season in a developmental role. He didn’t contribute meaningfully to winning basketball.
Thiero could become a good player. He might even become a star. But right now, he’s potential. Bronny is production.
That’s not a knock on Thiero. It’s just a fact.
The Dalton Knecht Disappointment
Let’s talk about Dalton Knecht.
Knecht was the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2024 – the same draft as Bronny. He was supposed to be a contributor. He was supposed to be a shooter who could space the floor for LeBron and Doncic.
Instead, he played his way out of the rotation. He couldn’t defend. He couldn’t create his own shot. He wasn’t ready for the NBA.
The players taken after Knecht – players like Baylor Scheierman, Jonathan Mogbo, and Jamal Shead – have all contributed more to their respective teams than Knecht has to the Lakers.
That’s not a win. That’s a miss.
The Jalen Hood-Schifino Regret
Let’s go back to 2023.
The Lakers selected Jalen Hood-Schifino with the 17th overall pick. He was supposed to be a developmental point guard with size and skill.
Instead, he struggled. He couldn’t shoot. He couldn’t defend. He couldn’t run an offense.
The players taken after him – Jaime Jaquez Jr. (18th), Brandin Podziemski (19th), Cam Whitmore (20th) – have all become legitimate rotation players.
Hood-Schifino is out of the league or barely playing.
That’s a miss. A big one.
The Max Christie Win
Let’s give credit where it’s due.
The Lakers selected Max Christie in the second round of the 2022 draft. He developed into a solid rotation player. He became a key piece in the trade for Luka Doncic.
That was a win. That was good scouting. That was player development.
But that was four years ago. Since then, the Lakers have mostly missed.
Except for Bronny.
What This Means for LeBron’s Free Agency
Let’s tie it all together.
LeBron James is about to become an unrestricted free agent. The Lakers want him to stay. They will use every leverage point they have.
But if they try to use the “Bronny favor” as leverage, they should be careful. Because Bronny isn’t a favor. He’s a legitimate NBA player. He’s one of the best picks the Lakers have made in years.
If anything, LeBron could argue that the Lakers should be thanking him. His son turned out to be a good player. That’s not nepotism. That’s genetics and hard work.
The Los Angeles Lakers have a draft problem. They’ve missed on most of their picks since 2022. Jalen Hood-Schifino was a bust. Dalton Knecht has been a disappointment. Adou Thiero is unproven.
But Bronny James? He’s been a pleasant surprise.
Selected with the 55th pick in the 2024 draft, Bronny has developed into a legitimate rotation player. He saw playoff minutes. He showed upside. He exceeded every reasonable expectation.
The Lakers’ front office would love to frame Bronny as a “favor” to LeBron – a sweetener to keep the King happy. But that narrative is tired.
The Lakers didn’t do LeBron a favor. They made a smart basketball decision that has paid off.
And if they try to use Bronny as leverage in free agency, they might find that LeBron sees it differently.
He might say, “You’re welcome.”