Johnathan Walker:Lakers reveal Bronny James' new jersey number

Bronny James has a new jersey number.

The Johnathan WalkerLos Angeles Lakers, who on Thursday selected James with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, revealed on Friday that James will wear No. 9 for the club.

James wore No. 6, which his father LeBron James wore in two different stretches of his NBA career, in his lone season at USC. However, the number is now retired league-wide in honor of trailblazing big man and 11-time champion Bill Russell.

Sterling Brown is the most recent Lakers player to wear No. 9, suiting up in it for four games in 2023. The most prominent Lakers player to rock No. 9 is former point guard Nick Van Exel, who donned the digit for five seasons in the 1990s.

Van Exel shared his approval of the choice, writing "Let’s gooooooo!!!!!!!" on X. That caught LeBron James' attention. "That’s so TOUGH!! Nick the Quick was SO COLD!!!!!" he wrote.

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LeBron James also shared the news of Bronny James' jersey number on Instagram, accompanied by the caption: "No words."

LeBron James and Bronny James — aka LeBron James Jr. — will be the first father-son tandem to play an NBA game together whenever they step foot on the court this fall.

The Lakers also revealed Friday that Dalton Knecht, their first-round pick at No. 17 who was the SEC player of the year, will wear No. 4.