The Warriors didn't draft Bronny James out of respect for LeBron – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

Programming note: Watch “Warriors Now” with Monte Poole and Dalton Johnson on Friday at 5:00 p.m. PT, live from training camp in Hawaii, streaming live on the NBC Sports app. Watch the show later YouTube And Facebook.

It looks like the Warriors have served their Southern California neighbors well in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Golden State's last pick in the current draft came in at No. 52, three picks ahead of Los Angeles' last pick. With LeBron James' son Bronny James still on the board when the Warriors were on the clock, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy and Co. passed on the 19-year-old guard to “accommodate the wishes” of the elder James, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne said. to respect reported citing sources.

The Warriors liked Bronny's skills and had him on their draft board, Shelburne added, but ultimately decided to go a different route and draft 7-foot center Quinten Post.

NBA history was made when the Lakers drafted Bronny, marking the first time a father and son played in the league at the same time.

“It means the world does [LeBron]Lakers star center Anthony Davis said after training camp this week. “I mean, nobody's ever had the chance to play with their son.” So it's like a different level of joy and appreciation. Nobody has ever done that before.

Bronny enters the league after a tumultuous first year at USC. Months before the start of his college career, Bronny suffered cardiac arrest during a July 2023 practice at USC's Galen Center. He was hospitalized and later diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, which was likely the cause of his cardiac arrest.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound guard averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game in 25 games. He shot just 36.6 percent from the floor and 26.7 percent from 3-point range (60 total attempts) and 67.6 percent from the free throw line (34 total attempts).

And while there are many questions about his NBA performance, it will be a special sight to see the James duo step onto an NBA court together in the 2024-25 season – and that's thanks in part to the Warriors.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast