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The Lakers draft Bronny James, bringing a father-son duo with LeBron closer to becoming an NBA first

Topline:
LeBron James first shared the dream of playing alongside his son in the NBA a few years ago. On Thursday, he got one step closer to making that a reality after the Lakers selected Bronny James in the second round of the NBA draft.
Why it matters: The pick doesn’t guarantee LeBron and Bronny will play together, but if they get that opportunity, the duo will become the league’s first ever father-son duo to play at the same time.
Why now: The Lakers picked Bronny after a one-year stint at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19 minutes a game.
The backstory: Bronny was sidelined for eight games last year after suffering a cardiac arrest related to a congenital heart defect last July.
What's next: Bronny will need experience and development to play alongside his father. He's only 19, so he'll have time to develop if LeBron signs the final year of his $51.4-million contract.
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