The Lakers drafted Bronny with the 55th pick in June, and awarded him a four-year, $7.9 million guaranteed contract after just one college season at USC in which Bronny mostly struggled as a role player.

In the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' 110–103 season-opening win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 39-year-old LeBron James checked into the game alongside his son, 20-year-old Bronny James. After months of anticipation, the two Lakers officially became the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA game.