Bronny James signs Los Angeles Lakers deal worth 14 times more than last year’s No. 55 NBA Draft pick
BRONNY James isn't a typical second-round NBA pick.
LeBron James' son, 19, is reportedly signing a guaranteed four-year, $7.9 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after being selected at No. 55 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
That's considerably more money than what last year's No. 55 pick, Indiana Pacers guard Isaiah Wong, received.
Wong, 23, inked a one-year contract with the Pacers after the 2023 draft.
It was a two-way deal which, per the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), is worth half the rookie minimum.
That means the former Miami Hurricanes standout was offered a salary of $559,782 – 14 times lower than Bronny's.
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What's more, only half of that amount was originally guaranteed, according to Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus.
Wong had to keep his spot on Indiana's roster past January 10 to make sure he would receive the other half – which he did.
The New Jersey native's two-way status came with other significant constraints.
He could only be active for 50 games in the NBA, spending the rest of the season with the Pacers' G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants.
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Wong also wasn't eligible to play in the postseason.
The 6-foot-3 guard played mainly for the Mad Ants last season, averaging 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 30 games.
However, he did clock four minutes in the Pacers' regular-season matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on April 1, making his first bucket in the NBA.
Wong also spent one minute of garbage time on the court at the end of the 123-109 loss to the Lakers in December's inaugural In-Season Tournament championship game.
Bronny's contract does include a team option for the 2027-28 season, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.
That means Los Angeles – or any other team he will be on in the summer of 2027 – can decide to part ways with James Jr. before the campaign starts, costing him about $2.5 million.
Highest contracts in NBA history
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics - 5 years, $314 million
- Jaylen Brown, Celtics - 5 years, $285.4 million
- Nikola Jokic, Nuggets - 5 years, $276.1 million
- Bradley Beal, Suns - 5 years, $251 million (signed with Washington)
- Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves - 5 years, $244.6 million
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers - 5 years, $244.6 million
Per Spotrac
Lakers head coach JJ Redick has said that the franchise isn't doing the ex-University of Southern California playmaker any favors, though.
"Rob [Pelinka, the Lakers general manager] and I did not give Bronny anything," Redick said during the introductory press conference for Bronny and No. 17 overall pick Dalton Knecht on Tuesday.
"Bronny has earned this. Bronny has earned this through hard work."
Meanwhile, LeBron is said to have agreed on a two-year, $104 million max contract extension.
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The four-time NBA champion didn't take a pay cut, as recent reports claimed he would.
The deal includes a player option for the second season, meaning LeBron can hit free agency again next summer.