What jersey number will Bronny James wear for the Los Angeles Lakers?

While the NBA Draft undoubtedly gave us a lot to think about ahead of the coming season, there’s undoubtedly no talking point that’s bigger than the fact that Bronny James is now a Los Angeles Lakers player and will play with his father, LeBron James, the man many argue is the greatest player in history.

Bronny James has his Lakers jersey number

Though it’s been just one day since he was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny James has got his official jersey number for his new team. Indeed, James will be wearing No. 9 this coming season according to an official announcement from the Lakers on Friday and with that, will be the 16th player in the franchise’s history to wear that number.

If you’re wondering about who has worn the jersey before, there are some famous faces including former guard Nick Van Exel, Matt Barnes, and of course Rajon Rondo. The new jersey number represents a change for James, as he previously wore No. 6 while playing for the USC Trojans last season, however, it’s an understandable switch as it is in fact the number that has been worn by his father before, in addition to the No. 23 which he currently uses.

This, the first step in Bronny’s career in the NBA is a significant one as he embarks on a journey that will be fraught with comparisons to his father and the pressure to emulate. Yet, to hear him tell it, this moment is in no way negative, but rather quite the opposite. “Beyond blessed,” James said in a post on Instagram. As mentioned above, James will become part of the first-ever father-son duo in the NBA, something that is undeniably special. “In the history of the NBA, there’s never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court and that feels like something that could be magical,” Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said.