Bronny James 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 son of NBA star LeBron James and Savannah Brinson. After one season at the University of Southern California (USC), he was selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, becoming part of the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed around 210 pounds, Bronny James plays both point guard and shooting guard, drawing attention for his perimeter defense, basketball IQ, and catch-and-shoot ability.
Bronny James
Early Life and Background
LeBron Raymone James Jr. was born on October 6, 2004, in Akron, Ohio, to LeBron James, who was 19 and in his first NBA season, and Savannah Brinson, who was 18. His parents married in 2013. As a child, he played several sports, including basketball and soccer, although his father did not allow him to play football or ice hockey because of safety concerns. By the time he was 10 years old, his youth basketball highlights were drawing national attention, and he played travel ball for teams such as the Miami City Ballers and the North Coast Blue Chips.
James attended Old Trail School in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio, and later enrolled at Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California, in August 2018. In April 2019, he made his Nike Elite Youth Basketball League debut with the program Strive for Greatness. His godfather is NBA All-Star Chris Paul, a close friend of his father. By May 2019, James had launched an Instagram account, reaching one million followers on his first day on the platform.
Path to Basketball
By 2015, scholarship offers and letters of interest from college programs had already begun arriving for James, prompting his father to comment on the unusually early attention. In 2016, ESPN reported that he held scholarship offers from Duke and Kentucky. He first appeared in recruiting rankings before his sophomore season, when 247Sports and ESPN rated him a four-star recruit and a top-30 player in the 2023 class. After a meniscus tear in February 2021 limited his sophomore year, his rankings dipped before climbing again during his senior season, when On3 ranked him as the ninth-best player in his class.
On January 17, 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported that James would choose between Ohio State, Oregon, and USC. He announced his commitment to USC on May 6, 2023, with Ohio State as his other finalist. In high school, he signed name, image and likeness (NIL) deals with Nike and Beats by Dre, and analysts projected him to have one of the highest-earning NIL potentials among college athletes.
Bronny James Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
James transferred to Sierra Canyon School, a private K-12 school in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, on May 29, 2019, joining the program alongside his younger brother Bryce and Zaire Wade, son of his father’s longtime teammate Dwyane Wade. He made his high school debut on November 21, 2019, scoring 10 points off the bench in a 91-44 win over Montgomery High School. During his freshman year, he averaged 4.1 points in 15 minutes per game, appearing in all 34 games for a Sierra Canyon team that finished 30-4.
As a junior, James averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, helping his team to a 26-5 record. In his senior season, he stepped into a leading role, was joined by Bryce, and averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game as Sierra Canyon went 23-11. He was selected to the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game, where he tied the record for most three-pointers in the event, and he also played in the Nike Hoop Summit.
USC Trojans (2023–2024)
On July 24, 2023, James collapsed during a USC practice at the Galen Center and later learned he had suffered cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect. He was released from the hospital on July 27. Less than five months later, he made his collegiate debut on December 10, finishing with four points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block off the bench in an 84-79 loss to Long Beach State. On December 30, he scored a career-high 15 points in a road loss to Oregon State, and on January 17, 2024, he played a season-high 30 minutes with 11 points, five rebounds, and six assists against No. 12 Arizona.
James appeared in USC’s final 25 games, starting six and averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes. In early May 2024, he was medically cleared to be eligible for the 2024 NBA draft, and on April 5, 2024, he announced on Instagram that he would enter the draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He worked out for only the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns before the draft.
Los Angeles Lakers Era (2024–Present)
On June 27, 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers selected James with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, pairing him with his father and creating the first active father-son duo in NBA history. He signed a contract with the Lakers on July 3, played in the NBA Summer League, and appeared in six preseason games. On October 22, 2024, in the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bronny James and his father became the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA. He debuted with a rebound in three minutes of play in the Lakers’ 110-103 win.
On October 30, 2024, he scored his first NBA basket in a 134-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Throughout his rookie season, James was assigned several 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 a 106-100 loss to the Valley Suns, and 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, he recorded his first double-digit scoring game in the NBA with 17 points against the Milwaukee Bucks, and on March 24, 2025, he scored a career-high 39 points in a 122-118 South Bay win over the Santa Cruz Warriors. On April 13, 2025, he made his first NBA start in the Lakers’ regular-season finale, a 109-81 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bronny James has been described as a confident catch-and-shoot guard who can also score off movement. Analysts praise his defensive anticipation, intensity, and perimeter footwork, and he is viewed as one of the top perimeter defenders in his class. He is a willing passer with a high basketball IQ, although he sometimes struggles to create separation from defenders and to finish at the rim. His playing style has drawn comparisons to De’Anthony Melton, Lonzo Ball, Miles McBride, and Jrue Holiday.
Notable Events and Milestones
James became part of the first active father-son duo in NBA history when he joined LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. He and his father shared the court for the first time on October 22, 2024, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He set a then career high of 31 points in the G League on January 24, 2025, and later scored 39 points in a South Bay win over the Santa Cruz Warriors on March 24, 2025.
Bronny James Career Wins
Bronny James’s competitive résumé includes a 2023 McDonald’s All-American selection, a 2023 Nike Hoop Summit appearance, and selection in the 2024 NBA draft. He has competed in regular-season NBA games, NBA Summer League, and the NBA G League, and his Sierra Canyon teams reached the CIF Open Division regional final in his junior season.
High School and All-Star Highlights
James was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2023 and tied the event record for most three-pointers while playing in the game. He also represented the United States at the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit, scoring 11 points and hitting the go-ahead free throws in a 90-84 win. At Sierra Canyon, he was the only player on his freshman team to appear in all 34 games.
Other Performances
As a senior at Sierra Canyon, James led his team to a 23-11 record, averaging 14.2 points per game. At USC, he appeared in 25 games, starting six, and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in his lone college season. In the NBA G League, he posted multiple 30-point games for the South Bay Lakers during the 2024-25 season.
Bronny James Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Bronny James is the eldest son of LeBron James, a four-time NBA champion and one of the league’s all-time leading scorers, and Savannah Brinson. He has a younger brother, Bryce James, who played alongside him at Sierra Canyon. His godfather is Chris Paul, an NBA All-Star and close friend of his father.
Personal Life
James has built a large social media following since high school, reaching one million Instagram followers on his first day on the platform in May 2019. He signed with esports organization FaZe Clan in 2020 under the handle “FaZe Bronny” and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in June 2021 alongside Kyler Murray and other FaZe Clan members. He has filed trademarks on variations of his name, including Bronny, BJ Jr., and Bronald, to protect his personal brand.
2025 Season Performance
James completed his rookie NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers while splitting time with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. He appeared in regular-season NBA games, including his first career start on April 13, 2025, against the Portland Trail Blazers. With the team’s starters rested, he finished that game with four points in a 109-81 loss.
In the G League, he was a consistent scoring presence for South Bay, recording multiple 30-point games, including 39 points against the Santa Cruz Warriors on March 24, 2025. His development continued to focus on perimeter defense, catch-and-shoot shooting, and on-ball playmaking. He wore jersey number 9 for the Lakers in honor of the late musician Juice Wrld, and he also wore number 0 in reference to his favorite player, Russell Westbrook.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 NBA season, James is expected to compete for a larger role in the Lakers’ rotation as he gains more experience at the NBA level. He will continue to see G League assignments with the South Bay Lakers to refine his scoring and playmaking. With his rookie year behind him, his second professional season will be a key test of his long-term fit in Los Angeles.