Bryce James, 17, gives VERY clear answer on whether he’ll play in the NBA alongside dad LeBron – after his brother Bronny was drafted by Lakers
Bronny James isn’t the only rising basketball star in the family. His younger brother Bryce James has also emerged as a promising player in the pre-season.
Bryce falls just outside the top 150 nationally in the Class of 2025, meaning the earliest he could play in the NBA would be the fall of 2026. When Bryce was asked this week if he would join his older brother and father, LeBron James, would join the Lakers, his answer was quick and emphatic.
“I’m not gonna lie, that’s OD (too much),” Bryce said on Instagram. “Waiting till I — no, that’s too much. That’s too much, no. No, oh my god. He’s 42, bro.”
It’s not inconceivable that LeBron could play until he’s 42. The veteran turns 40 in December and will likely remain with the Lakers until his retirement, with close friend JJ Redick being named the team’s head coach.
LeBron had long expressed his dream of playing with one of his sons in the NBA, a vision that became a reality on Thursday when Bronny was selected by Los Angeles with the No. 55 overall pick in this year’s draft.
Bryce James said he doesn’t believe he will play with his father in the NBA because of his age
Bronny James was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday and will play alongside his father
LeBron has long stated that he wants to play with one of his sons and now he gets the chance
LeBron is currently in negotiations for a new contract with the Lakers, which will likely last for several years and secure his future with the franchise.
If LeBron prioritizes playing with several of his sons at the same time in a professional setting, Los Angeles will likely let the living legend take the lead.
That Bryce is good enough to play in the NBA also appears to be a major hurdle for the James trio playing together in yellow and purple.
Critics are strongly against nepotism, which is said to have played a major role in Bronny James’ draft. Many argue that if he wasn’t the eldest child of one of the greatest basketball players of all time, he wouldn’t be good enough to play in the NBA.
Bryce James could be on the same path. Multiple online recruiting services predict that he will commit to either USC, where Bronny played in college, or Ohio State, near his father’s home state, in the coming months.
Even Bryce doubts his father will play in the NBA for two more years.
Kobe Bryant played his last NBA game at the age of 37, while Michael Jordan was 40. LeBron will have to surpass both of them by a wide margin to have a chance at a spot on a team with both Bronny and Bryce.