It always seemed to be the Los Angeles Lakers or nowhere for Bronny James, the son of superstar LeBron James. In the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, the purple and gold made it happen with the 55th overall pick on Thursday night. 

In videos of James’ initial reaction to getting drafted hit social media, the USC product tried his best to keep his tears in as family and friends celebrated hearing his name called on the television. 

James was keeping his head high as one could tell he was sniffing back whatever waterworks may have been coming. 

His mother, Savannah, handed him a Lakers hat, which he put on as he bowed his head. 

Another video from James’ younger brother, Bryce, was posted as he immediately said, “Yessir!” in elation at the pick. 

Once the cheers died down, ESPN reported that a champagne toast had been made by the elder James and that it was “very emotional.”

LAKERS SELECT LEBRON JAMES’ SON, BRONNY, IN NBA DRAFT

The emotion likely comes from a couple factors other than the pure joy of being drafted by an NBA team. 

The first is the obvious one: James can now play with his father, who was expected to opt out of his current deal with the Lakers, but has a non-financial incentive now to return next season. 

The Jameses are the first father-son duo to ever play in the NBA at the same time. 

Bronny James talks with his father, LeBron James, after the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game at Toyota Center.  (Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

James suffered a cardiac arrest in July 2023, and later underwent a procedure to treat a congenital heart defect.  

There was a time when basketball may not have been in James’ future, but he would get on the court at USC later that season. The 6-foot-4 guard came off the bench in all but six of his 25 games, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his freshman season. 

When he declared for the draft, many scouts and experts believed that James had to develop more and that he wasn’t NBA-ready. While that may still be the case, the Lakers are betting on James’ ceiling, taking him late in the second round in hopes that he can develop into the solid two-way guard many believed he could be when he was a four-star recruit coming out of Sierra Canyon. 

James will be developing with not just a new coaching staff, led by first-time coach JJ Redick, but also under the likely guidance of his father. 

Bronny James poses for a photo during the 2024 NBA Combine on May 13, 2024, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images)

From a personal, and now professional, perspective, it is an emotional time for the James family. 

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Since the fall of 2021, the most amazing commitment began. Tracey Sanders bought a new hybrid car so that six days a week he’d be able to drive his then freshman son, John, from the family home in Mojave to St. Francis High in La Cañada. It’s 80 miles one way and takes 90 minutes driving the 14 Freeway.

Two years later, his other son, Shawn, joined John in attending St. Francis and making the 160-mile round-trip commute. Both are quarterbacks and had been trained by St. Francis coach Dean Herrington since they were youth athletes.

“We do whatever we have to do for the kids,” said Tracey, a general contractor who also helps coach at St. Francis.

With temperatures closing in on 100 degrees in Mojave, John, now a senior, was enjoying summer workouts this week at St. Francis. And he was ready to answer the question, “Did you think you’d do this for four years coming from Mojave?”

“Ah, to be honest, before I came here, I didn’t think it would last this long,” he said. “But here we are. I’ve got one more year.”

The long commute has been good for both Sanders boys. They have grade-point averages above 4.0 and use their car time for doing homework or sleeping. John is coming off a junior season when he was one of the most versatile quarterbacks, passing for 2,032 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 778 yards and eight touchdowns.

Herrington has compared him to his former quarterback pupil, Vernon Adams, who wasn’t recruited much out of Bishop Alemany but went on to play for Eastern Washington and Oregon. Adams now plays in the Canadian Football League.

“Colleges made a mistake not going after Vernon,” Herrington said. “Now it’s the same deal. I don’t get it. John can run, can throw, he’s smart, he’s tough. I see a lot of bad college quarterbacks out there. Someone has to pull the trigger.”

Sanders ran the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds at a football camp this summer and ran an 11.2-second 100 meters for the track team. He thinks he’s faster and stronger.

“I can just feel it,” he said.

The Golden Knights are expected to pass the ball a lot more with the addition of new receivers who are faster than last year’s group. Demari Nunley, a transfer from St. Pius X-St. Matthias, and sophomores Mason Maddox and Daveon Blaylock could take advantage of Sanders’ arm and experience.

Then there’s brother Shawn, a junior who serves as the backup quarterback, receiver, kicker and punter. With scorching temperatures earlier this week, John was outside serving as the holder while little brother tried field goals. Imagine the potential fake field-goal plays that could be designed with the kicker and holder both quarterbacks. Think laterals, but who should throw the ball?

“Either of us,” John said. “Whomever grabs it first.”

The Sanders family can discuss their ideas coming and going thanks to dad being their loyal chauffeur. Tracey said the hybrid is still holding out and will need to last through 2026 when Shawn graduates. That would be six years of round trips from Mojave to La Cañada.

“Their grades are great,” Tracey said. “I’m not breaking up that.”

The United States men’s national soccer team, down a man after Timothy Weah’s early red card in the first half, couldn’t hold off constant pressure Thursday from Panama, which captured a 2-1 win in a Copa América group stage match. 

The USMNT was searching for another victory in the group stage after taking down Bolivia Sunday. A U.S. win would have made Monday’s matchup against Uruguay meaningless because six points would have advanced the U.S. to the knockout stage. 

The match against Panama turned chippy, and it started with Weah. 

The veteran U.S. forward was issued a red card in the 18th minute after shoving a Panamanian player in the back of the head, resulting in an automatic ejection. 

Though he was initially given a yellow card, a referee pocketed the yellow and took out the red with Weah already walking off the field. From there, the USMNT was down a player, and Panama took advantage. 

USMNT’S TIMOTHY WEAH ISSUED RED CARD AFTER STRIKING PANAMA PLAYER IN HEAD

The U.S. got on the board first when Folarin Balogun scored his second goal of this Copa América tournament with a left boot off the right post in the 22nd minute. But Panama answered four minutes later, when Cesar Blackman scored his first career international goal with a left-footed drive past the reach of keeper Matt Turner. 

Turner eventually took a seat on the USMNT bench after a nasty collision in the first half resulted in a leg injury. Turner finished the first half, but Ethan Horvath replaced him in the second. 

Players from Panama celebrate after winning a Copa América USA 2024 Group C match against the United States at Mercedes-Benz Stadium June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Panama used its one-man man advantage to send a constant attack at the U.S. Defense was key, and the U.S. switched to a five-man backfield with three midfielders and one forward. But Panama finally broke through with some patience in the 83rd minute. 

After Ricardo Pepi failed to convert a Weston McKennie cross one minute earlier to give the U.S. a lead, Panama’s José Fajardo redirected a pinball cross past Horvath, and Panama’s bench rushed the field to celebrate the score. 

With the U.S. entering desperation mode, the game turned ugly. Panama’s Adalberto Carrasquilla was issued a red card after sweeping Christian Pulisic’s legs, which led to a bit of a scuffle. 

With the sides even at 10 players, the U.S. had a few set pieces to work with, but it failed to convert. 

Weston McKennie of the U.S. looks dejected after losing a Copa América USA 2024 Group C match against Panama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

When the final whistle blew, Panama had won its third match over the U.S. in its history. 

The U.S. now heads into Monday’s match against Uruguay, the winner of 15 Copa América tournaments, needing a victory to make it out of the group stage. 

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