- The NBA regular season tipped off on Tuesday night, and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103.
- LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play a regular-season game in the NBA.
- Bronny is getting lots of action at sportsbooks for his NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
The NBA regular season is underway, and as usual, the Los Angeles Lakers are in the spotlight. The Lakers won their 2024-2025 debut over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, all eyes were on LeBron James and his son, Bronny. They became the first father-son duo to play a regular-season game together. It has also been reported that Bronny’s NBA Rookie of the Year odds are getting lots of attention at sportsbooks.
Bronny Getting Lots of NBA ROY Love from Bettors, Even as a Longshot
The Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 110-103 on Wednesday night, led by Anthony Davis with 36 points and 16 rebounds. But history was made when LeBron and Bronny entered the game together in the second quarter.
The James duo played over two minutes together late in the first half, and Bronny logged a rebound, while missing two shots. But the fact that they were on the court together was the story. LeBron and Bronny were joined by Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr., who played together with the Seattle Mariners in in 1990.
In fact, you can find action on Bronny’s exploits this season at online sportsbooks. There are Bronny’s first NBA basket predictions and odds, and whether LeBron will be the one to assist him. But you can also find odds on Bronny’s NBA Rookie of the Year odds, and an ESPN report claims that, according to FanDuel, 20% of their NBA ROY bets are coming in on Bronny.
That is despite Bronny having wildly long odds to win. At best, you can find Bronny at +12500 at offshore sportsbooks.
Could Bronny Actually Win NBA Rookie of the Year?
Now, should you actually consider Bronny’s NBA Rookie of the Year odds for the 2024-2025 season? It’s now real, as LeBron and Bronny played a preseason game together earlier this month. But the games matter now, and it remains to be seen how much Bronny will actually play this season.
The Nike commercial that LeBron posted yesterday was fun, but it might be a long season for Bronny, who probably deserves to be in the G League right now. You won’t find daily NBA player props on the younger James. Against the Timberwolves, Bronny was -5 in almost three minutes of action. He still can’t shoot from outside, and Bronny still looked small on the court, although he is listed at 6’4”, and 210 pounds.
Bronny won’t see the floor in important minutes anytime soon. His work in practice will be what dictates the minutes he gets, and that’s why his Rookie of the Year odds are more about marketing than actually betting. But this was to be expected, as far back as last year when Bronny was at USC. It’s a great story, especially considering Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest in July 2023, and didn’t play for USC until December.
But the younger James has a lot of work to do to get big minutes in the NBA, although he has the full support of the Lakers and his father.
