The Los Angeles Lakers have created an environment in which the room for dissension undeniably exists. Los Angeles has also taken a chance on LeBron James solidifying his legacy as a leader who holds everyone around him to a championship standard—no matter his relationship with them.
It's one of the most compelling storylines in all of sports, as James has become teammates with his son and will now be asked to navigate uncharted territory in 2024-25.
Bronny James was selected by the Lakers at No. 55 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. While some disputed the rationale behind the selection due to James' medically-impacted freshman season, others expressed excitement for this unprecedented event.
With the potential for accusations of favoritism looming large, the James family offered an early answer to those concerns with a practice session that had the Lakers in awe of their competitiveness.
Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, superstar Anthony Davis was among those who couldn't help but express their excitement over the dynamic between Bronny and LeBron James.
"It's fantastic to be able to be here and witness it in practice," Davis said. "Bronny hit a 3 over him today. Everybody was talking smack in Bronny's favor. Then Bron came down and just bullied somebody. Just took it out on -- I forgot who it was -- and got a layup. Bronny came down and hit another 3, I think over Austin . And Bron wanted the ball."
Davis continued:
"So you could see, even though they weren't matched up, the competition is there. And that's what we love to see."
It's impossible to predict the outcome of an unprecedented situation, but this type of competitive environment could help put those concerns in the rearview.
Bronny, LeBron James facilitating competitive practice environment
The Lakers' practices have been far more intense than many surrounding the team have become accustomed to witnessing. It's part of the initiative put in place by JJ Redick to foster a more competitive environment for the team to train in.
It's a philosophy employed by countless successful coaches across an endless number of sports, including Lakers legend Phil Jackson.
Jackson famously wanted his practices to be even more challenging for players than their actual games. The logic behind the idea was that it would create an advantage for his teams during the most tense of moments throughout the regular season and playoffs.
Suffice it to say, the approach worked out for the 11-time NBA champion, who has more titles and a higher postseason win percentage than any other head coach in Association history.
It's far too soon to compare Redick to Jackson, or anyone else for that matter. He hasn't even coached his first regular season game yet. But the proven philosophy of intense practices leading to a clearer sense of how to win during the season is one he's wise to embrace.
The fact that Bronny and LeBron James are leading by example bodes well for the Lakers, especially considering the fact that 2024-25 projects to be a unique season.
LeBron James will be internally and externally held to the standard of treating his son the same way that he treats every other coach and teammate in Los Angeles. Going all-out against one another in practice is an early but promising step in the right direction.
If the Lakers can continue to build camaraderie around a fair and competitive environment, the 2024-25 season may see them exceed all expectations.