Four-time NBA champion and four-time league MVP LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers has been spreading his superstar shine across the NBA for the past two-plus decades.
And now, here comes the son.
Only, this son comes with a forecast of uncertain weather. That might be the case if Los Angeles—or another team, for that matter—uses up a draft pick to try and develop this superstar’s eldest child into a viable NBA regular player.
Lebron Jr., or Bronny James, is looking to break into the pro ranks, but without the resume typical of a worthy draft pick. Add the unquestioned greatness of dear old dad to the equation, and the challenges for everyone are sky-high.
LeBron James has shot his way to superstardom with his play, becoming the all-time NBA scoring leader in February of 2023. Bronny James, a shooting guard who averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a freshman at USC this past season, is more of a longshot to reach the NBA next season.
The 19-year-old, after just one season as a Trojan, on April 5 tossed his hat into the ring for the June 26–27 NBA draft. Bronny simultaneously entered the transfer portal, setting up a secondary plan to remain in college if the NBA situation isn’t right.
But the 6-foot-1 and a half Bronny isn’t really on the board of many mock drafts. He is, at best, a risky use of a pick. And the Lakers, who have been in the NBA’s play-in tournament the past two seasons, can’t afford to make mistakes with their draft picks. They need players who can help push them toward the top of a talented Western Conference.
LeBron has said for years that he would love to play alongside his son. That statement has many in the sports sphere thinking the Lakers’ best player will use free agency to jump to the team that drafts—or acquires—his still-developing son.
The desire to play together looks more like a one-way street, though.
“My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and, of course, get to the NBA, which is everyone’s end goal here,” Bronny said during media availability at this month’s NBA Combine. “I never thought about playing with my dad, but of course, he’s brought it up a couple of times. But I don’t think about that.”
Still, should the James duo be fortunate enough to share a locker room for a club, Bronny said his focus would be on his journey, not his family ties.
“I don’t think when I get there—I don’t think it would just be like me and my dad. I would be happy about getting to the league instead of me thinking about playing with my dad,” Bronny said in response to a question about having his father on the same team. “I’m just trying to put in the work and see where it takes me.”
But if a club out there thinks it can also lure his father, the potential for drama could be worthy of a Hollywood script.
LeBron has a $51.4 million player option for the upcoming 2024–25 season, and his pending decision is going to drive some of the conversation in the early portion of the offseason for the Lakers. Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents the day after the last NBA Finals game. Clubs may then open talks with upcoming free agents on other rosters on June 30.
LeBron hasn’t publicly pounded the table for L.A. to draft Bronny, and the younger James is simply focused on taking his best shot. However, the not-ready-for-primetime player has an obvious inside track to the NBA, and a connection with Los Angeles, having chosen to attend USC as a four-star recruit out of high school.
His strong performance at the NBA Combine, a series of athletic tests and skill-based drills, shows he’s not the kind of basketball phenom his father proved to be. But then again, not many can do what LeBron does.
The oldest of LeBron’s three children, Bronny’s health status adds an element that could also dump rain on this parade. The NBA hopeful last year collapsed because of cardiac arrest during a July 2023 practice session. He required a procedure to repair what doctors called a congenital heart defect.
Bronny has reportedly been cleared to play in the league, but with the number of medical checks professional players must pass, this is a concern for any team.
The bottom line is, right now, Bronny is a project. If he goes back to college and puts up the kind of numbers and metrics that make NBA team officials drool, he can certainly be worthy of a roster spot. If, though, a team snatches him up in hopes of recruiting his father, who turns 40 in December, it could have a negative effect on that organization.
The best-case scenario is for all 30 teams to pass on Bronny, who then returns to college.
The son can rise as the sun sets on LeBron’s career.
