LeBron Raymone “Bronny” James Jr. Bio
LeBron Raymone “Bronny” James Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on assignment with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. Born on October 6, 2004, in Akron, Ohio, he is the eldest child of NBA superstar LeBron James and Savannah Brinson. James gained national attention as a youth basketball player before becoming a standout at Sierra Canyon School, where he earned McDonald's All-American honors in 2023. He played one season for the USC Trojans before being selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, making history as the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA.
Early Life and Background
James was born in Akron, Ohio, to LeBron James, who was 19 years old and just two years removed from being named NBA Rookie of the Year, and his mother Savannah Brinson, age 18. His parents married in 2013, and James was raised by both throughout his childhood. Growing up, he participated in multiple sports including basketball and soccer, though his father prohibited him from playing football and ice hockey due to safety concerns. By the time he was 10 years old, his youth basketball highlights were already drawing national media attention.
During his formative years, James played for several elite travel teams including the Miami City Ballers, where he played alongside Jett Howard, and the Houston-based Gulf Coast Blue Chips. In middle school, he competed for the North Coast Blue Chips alongside future professional prospect Mikey Williams. James also attended Old Trail School in Bath Township, Ohio, where he led his team to an Independent School League tournament championship. In August 2018, he enrolled at Crossroads School, a private K-12 institution in Santa Monica, California.
Path to Basketball
James' path to professional basketball began with extensive national exposure during his youth career. In July 2018, a youth game featuring James was canceled after a fan wearing a Michael Jordan jersey heckled his father. On December 3, 2018, in his first game for Crossroads School, he scored 27 points in a 61-48 victory over Culver City Middle School. In April 2019, he made his Nike Elite Youth Basketball League debut with Strive for Greatness, further establishing his reputation among elite youth prospects.
Recruiting analysts began projecting James as a high-major Division I prospect entering high school. By 2016, he had received scholarship offers from programs including Duke and Kentucky. He first appeared in recruiting rankings before his sophomore season, with 247Sports and ESPN rating him as a four-star recruit and a top-30 player in the 2023 class. After experiencing a dip in rankings during his junior year, James bounced back in his senior season, with On3 ranking him as the ninth-best player in his class. On May 6, 2023, he announced his commitment to USC, choosing the Trojans over finalist Ohio State.
LeBron Raymone “Bronny” James Jr. Career
Sierra Canyon High School (2019–2023)
On May 29, 2019, James transferred to Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, joining his brother Bryce and incoming senior Zaire Wade, son of NBA legend Dwyane Wade. The school's basketball program, coached by Andre Chevalier, was one of the nation's elite programs with two consecutive California Interscholastic Federation Open Division state titles. ESPN announced it would broadcast 15 of Sierra Canyon's games during James' freshman season due to the extraordinary national interest surrounding the team.
On November 21, 2019, James made his high school debut, scoring 10 points off the bench in a 91-44 win over Montgomery High School. On December 14, he scored 15 points including a go-ahead layup and earned MVP honors in a 59-56 victory over his father's alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Sierra Canyon finished 30-4 and reached the Open Division state championship game, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. James averaged 4.1 points in 15 minutes per game as a freshman, appearing in all 34 games.
During his sophomore year in February 2021, James tore his meniscus at practice and underwent surgery, missing most of the season. He returned for the CIF Southern Section Open Division final on June 11, scoring seven points in an 80-72 loss. As a junior, he averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. In his senior season, James stepped into a leading role alongside his brother Bryce, averaging 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, leading Sierra Canyon to a 23-11 record.
College Career at USC (2023–2024)
Entering his college career, James was projected as a top-ten pick in the 2024 NBA draft and was described by ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony as the most improved prospect in the country. However, his collegiate career faced a serious health crisis. On July 24, 2023, James collapsed during a USC practice session at the Galen Center and suffered cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect. He was released from the hospital on July 27 and was later medically cleared in May 2024 to be eligible for the NBA draft.
Less than five months after the cardiac arrest incident, James made his collegiate debut on December 10, recording four points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block off the bench in an 84-79 loss against Long Beach State. On December 30, he scored a career-high 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting in a road loss against Oregon State. James appeared in 25 games for USC, starting six, and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes per game. On April 5, 2024, he announced he would enter the 2024 NBA draft while maintaining college eligibility.
Los Angeles Lakers (2024–Present)
James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, pairing him with his father and creating the first father-son duo in NBA history. He signed his contract on July 3 and played for the Lakers during the NBA Summer League and six preseason games. On October 22, 2024, in the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, James made NBA history as the first father-son duo to play together in the league, debuting with a rebound in three minutes of play during the Lakers' 110-103 victory.
On October 30, James scored his first NBA basket along with two assists and a steal in a 134-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Throughout his rookie season, he was assigned multiple times to the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. On December 12, 2024, he scored a game-high 30 points on 13-of-23 shooting in South Bay's 106-100 loss to the Valley Suns. On January 24, 2025, he scored a then career-high 31 points in a 122-110 win over the Rip City Remix.
On March 20, 2025, James recorded his first double-digit scoring game of his NBA career, co-leading the shorthanded Lakers with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and five assists in a 118-89 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Four days later, he scored a career-high 39 points with seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals in South Bay's 122-118 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors. In the Lakers' regular-season finale on April 13, with starters rested, James made his first career start and finished with four points in a 109-81 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Playing Style and Strengths
James stands 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters) and plays both point guard and shooting guard positions. Analysts have identified shooting and defensive anticipation as his main strengths, with praise for his ability to defend point guards and his high basketball IQ as a willing passer. He excelled in catch-and-shoot situations and could shoot off movement. His defensive intensity was noted as a developing strength, with ESPN's Givony describing him as developing into one of the top perimeter defenders in his class. Comparisons have been drawn to players like De'Anthony Melton, Lonzo Ball, Miles McBride, and Jrue Holiday.
Notable Events and Milestones
James' career has been marked by historic moments beginning in high school, where he drew unprecedented national attention as a youth player. His senior year included a memorable Nike Hoop Summit performance where he hit the game-winning free throws for a 90-84 victory. As a McDonald's All-American, he tied the event record with five three-pointers. His selection by the Lakers in 2024 created the NBA's first active father-son duo, and he made his NBA debut alongside his father LeBron James on opening night.
LeBron Raymone “Bronny” James Jr. Career Highlights
Throughout his basketball career, James has accumulated notable achievements across high school, college, and professional levels. His most prestigious honor came in 2023 when he was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, one of the premier events for high school basketball players in the United States.
McDonald's All-American and High School Honors
James was selected to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Game, where he scored 15 points, making five three-pointers that tied the event record for most made three-pointers. He also participated in the Nike Hoop Summit that year, scoring 11 points with four rebounds, a steal, and a block while hitting the go-ahead free throws in a 90-84 victory. During his four years at Sierra Canyon, he helped the team maintain its status as one of California's top programs.
Professional Milestones
Through his first season with the Lakers organization, James achieved several notable performances. His 30-point game with South Bay Lakers on December 12, 2024, demonstrated his ability to score at the G League level. His career-high 39-point performance against the Santa Cruz Warriors on March 24, 2025, showed his continued development as a scorer. His first NBA start on April 13, 2025, marked another milestone in his professional career.
LeBron Raymone “Bronny” James Jr. Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
James comes from an extraordinary basketball family. His father, LeBron James, is widely considered one of the greatest NBA players of all time and was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2004, the same year Bronny was born. His mother is Savannah Brinson. His godfather is NBA All-Star Chris Paul, who is a close family friend of his father. James has two younger brothers, Bryce and Bryce, who have also pursued basketball careers.
Personal Life
Beyond basketball, James has built a significant public presence. In 2020, he signed with esports organization FaZe Clan and streamed Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone under the handle "FaZe Bronny." In June 2021, he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated alongside FaZe Clan members including NFL quarterback Kyler Murray. He has established a massive social media following since high school, starting his Instagram account in May 2019 and reaching one million followers in his first day on the platform. By the end of high school, he had over seven million Instagram followers.
James has signed name, image, and likeness deals with Nike and Beats by Dre. In February 2022, he filed for trademarks on variations of his name including Bronny, BJ Jr., and Bronald. He chose to wear jersey number 9 for his professional career with the Lakers, a decision made to honor the late musician Juice Wrld and allude to Juice's 2017 debut EP "999."
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season marked James' rookie year in the NBA and represented a significant developmental period. Splitting time between the Los Angeles Lakers and their G League affiliate South Bay Lakers, he showed consistent improvement throughout the campaign. His ability to score efficiently at the G League level was evident in his 30-point and 39-point performances, demonstrating the offensive capabilities that could translate to higher NBA production in future seasons.
At the NBA level, James' opportunities were limited as a rookie, but he showed flashes of potential in his limited minutes. His first double-digit scoring game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 20, 2025, provided a glimpse of what the Lakers organization believes he can become. Working alongside his father on the same roster provided unique mentorship opportunities that few players in professional sports history have experienced.
The Lakers organization's approach of developing James through G League assignments while keeping him close to the main team reflects a long-term vision for his progression. With his work ethic, family support system, and continued physical development, James appears positioned to carve out his own identity in professional basketball separate from his father's legendary career. The foundation established during his rookie season suggests promising potential for increased contributions in the seasons ahead.