The Los Angeles Lakers will host none other than LeBron James and the Sixers on Christmas Day, in what could be the first matchup between the two teams. While the storyline will center on James' return to LA, Bronny will also garner attention, assuming he is still on the team.
We've already seen the first father-son duo take the court together in an NBA game, and if Bronny is still in purple and gold on Dec. 25 and plays against the Sixers, it will be the first time a father and son go against one another.
More history could be in store, and assuming it will be the first Los Angeles-Philadelphia matchup, there is no better time for it to happen. LeBron probably agrees, too, as it means he will be home for the holiday, at least. And hopefully, he will get to spend it with Bronny.
Will Bronny James get to play against LeBron on Christmas?
JJ Redick is under no obligation to play Bronny against LeBron and the Sixers. The 21-year-old guard has improved enough for the Lakers to let the deadline pass for his contract to become guaranteed, but he's still not at the point where he will be a regular face in the rotation. That doesn't mean that the circumstances won't allow for Redick to give him some playing time.
The bigger question, at least right now, is whether Bronny will still be in Los Angeles. You might be thinking that since his contract is guaranteed, that's the answer, but that happened right before LeBron informed the Lakers that he was leaving in free agency.
That was well over a month ago, and Bronny is still around, but Los Angeles currently has 16 players on guaranteed contracts, a number that will need to be trimmed to 15 by the start of the season. That doesn't automatically mean that he's the odd man out, as the Lakers have had only good things to say about what he brings. It is a business, though, and tough decisions are part of that.
If Los Angeles doesn't make a trade that cuts the roster to 15, there is still value in keeping Bronny around. He's set to make $2.3 million this season, a very affordable price for a young player with upside. It would be nice to see him still on the team by the time Dec. 25 rolls around, and in a position to play against his father.
This season is set to be a pivotal one for the younger James. No one can claim that the Lakers are keeping Bronny around as a "favor" to LeBron now that he's gone. It's on him to pave his own way, with Los Angeles helping him continue his development, and it seems like that's what the organization wants to do.
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