Bronny James isn’t the only up-and-coming basketball star in the family, with younger brother Bryce James turning into a blue-chip prep prospect.
Bryce is just outside a top-150 prospect nationally in the Class of 2025, making the earliest he could play in the NBA the fall of 2026. When Bryce was asked this week about him joining his older brother and father, LeBron James, on the Lakers, his answer was quick and emphatic.
‘I’m not gonna lie, that’s OD (too much),’ Bryce said on Instagram. ‘Waiting until I — nah, that’s too much. That’s too much, no. No, Good lord. He’s going to be 42, bro.’
It’s not inconceivable that LeBron could play until he’s 42. The veteran turns 40 in December and likely will stay with the Lakers until his retirement with good friend JJ Redick being installed as the team’s head coach.
LeBron had long stated his dream to play with one of his son’s in the NBA, a vision that turned into reality on Thursday with Bronny being selected No 55 overall by Los Angeles in this year’s draft.
Bryce James said he does not believe he will play with his dad in the NBA due to his age
Bronny James was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday and will team with his dad
LeBron has long stated his desire to play with one of his sons and now gets the opportunity
LeBron is in the middle of negotiating a new contract with the Lakers that will likely be for multiple years, securing his future with the franchise.
If LeBron is prioritizing playing with multiple of his sons at the same time in a professional setting, Los Angeles will likely let the living legend call that shot.
Bryce being good enough to play in the NBA also appears to be a major hurdle to the James trio playing together in the yellow and purple.
Critics have been vocal about nepotism playing a big role in Bronny James being drafted, with many saying if he was not the eldest child of one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, he would not be good enough to play in the NBA.
Bryce James could be on the same trajectory, with multiple online recruiting services predicting a commitment to USC, where Bronny played in college, or to Ohio State, near in his dad’s home state, in the next few months.
Even Bryce has some doubts for his dad playing for two more years in the NBA.
Kobe Bryant played his last NBA game at 37, while Michael Jordan was 40. LeBron will have to go well past both of them for any chance to be in a lineup with both Bronny and Bryce.
