It’s never easy fitting into the shoes of your mom or dad, but imagine having to fill the shoes of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. That’s the exact situation that the NBA’s all-time leading point-scorer’s eldest son, Bronny James, finds himself in every single day since joining the Lakers franchise.
The LA Lakers picked the 19-year-old shooting guard as the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. With his draft, Bronny and LeBron formed the first father-son duo to play together for the first time in NBA history.
Who is LeBron James’ oldest child?
Hate him or love him, there’s no denying what LeBron James has meant to the basketball community. He’s one of the best players to ever put on a jersey on the court. Off the court, he’s one of the most philanthropical athletes in the world. Take, for instance, the I Promise School. It’s a school LeBron founded in his hometown (Akron, Ohio) and has awarded hundreds of kids with free tuition.
He motivates young athletes everywhere who aspire to be like him. That’s no different for LeBron James’ oldest son, Bronny, a star in the making.
To the surprise of many, LeBron James married his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson. Bronny is their eldest son, who now has two younger siblings, Bryce and Zhuri.
Contrary to popular belief, Bronny wasn’t trusted into the basketball limelight as a young one. LeBron and his wife encouraged LeBron James Jr to play or try anything he pleased. The only restriction was that Bronny wasn’t allowed to play football or hockey because of concerns about his long-term health. This decision stemmed from research that was coming out around when Bronny was in elementary school.
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Bronny James’ Basketball Career
While it might seem odd to claim that a 19-year-old has a basketball career, his basketball history is as long as it is impressive. He’s been involved in numerous AAU basketball teams before he even hit high school and was the leading force behind his middle school’s (Old Trail School) Independent School League tournament win.
As far as Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball is concerned, Bronny played for both the Miami City Ballers (fourth grade) and Gulf Coast Blue Chips.
Due to his name and impressive skills, Bronny James joined the AAU team Strive for Greatness and competed in a U-16 Nike tournament (Nike EYBL). This was his chance to play against some of the nation’s most impressive recruits, many of whom were older than him.
When LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bronny transitioned to California to play basketball. He enrolled at the Crossroads School but couldn’t join the varsity team immediately. Why? Because the state of California’s athletic association has a rule against eighth-graders joining varsity teams from the get-go.
After playing for the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers, Bronny joined the USC Trojans in 2023. However, LeBron’s firstborn suffered a cardiac arrest during a basketball workout at the University of Southern California in August 2023. In late November 2023, Bronny was cleared to play basketball by his doctors, and LeBron’s eldest son scored four points in his first-ever college game.
What Lies Ahead For Lakers’ Bronny?
For those of you wondering why Bronny didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps by going to the NBA right out of high school, the league currently has a rule requiring that players attend at least one year of college basketball to be eligible for the NBA Draft the following season. However, the wait is over as the Lakers signed Bronny, paving the way for the first active father-son duo in NBA history.
While he has repeatedly worn the jersey numbers 23 and 6 (as a nod to his father), Bronny prefers to wear the number 0 for his favorite NBA player (besides his dad), Russell Westbrook. However, he was seen wearing No.9 during the 2024 NBA Summer League.
During the summer league, the 6-foot-2 Bronny showed his jump shots, passing and physical skills, and basketball IQ, but his defensive abilities took the limelight.
How much will Bronny James make at the Lakers?
Now that you’ve read about Bronny James, you know the sky is his limit. As the 2024 NBA regular season begins, you’ll hear more about him, marking his debut with the Lakers. In his debut season, Bronny is expected to earn $14,000 per match at the Lakers, according to Bobby Marks and Dave McMenamin.
Bronny signed a four-year, $7.9 million contract with the Lakers after playing 25 games, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in his freshman year with the Trojans.
Bronny James’ Stardom Off the Court
Despite his amazing skill and popularity, LeBron James and his entire family (including Bronny) have always maintained a relatively private lifestyle. The entire family is very close-knit and likes to keep to themselves.
That said, Bronny has quite the presence on social media, even though he’s only 19 years old. For example, Bronny’s Instagram account has amassed 8.1 million followers when creating this article.
Bronny often posts videos of himself and his dad, such as the well-known James family “Taco Tuesday” family taco night. Fun fact: LeBron once tried to trademark “Taco Tuesday” based on those videos.
While he’s only 19, this young man shows potential and promise. While he might sometimes walk in his dad’s shadow, there’s no denying that Bronny can hold his own both on and off the court.
For more NBA-related topics, be sure to read this article in which James Harden and Trae Young have had the NBA competition committee meet about their “unnatural shooting motions“.
Be sure to check in on Total Pro Sports often for more articles about LeBron James, Bronny James, and other athletes you’re interested in.
