Bronny James isn’t making much of the fact that the Lakers locker room looks different without his father in it.
At Monday’s media day, the 23-year-old was asked about his first season without LeBron James as a teammate, and he brushed it off with a simple read on the situation. “Feels like he's not here,” Bronny said. “I don't really have an opinion on that.
“That's my dad. I spent almost 22 years with him.
Just another experience that I'm going to be a part of, and I'm excited (for) how it's going to feel during the season, too. So, looking forward it.”
Bronny has bounced between the Lakers and their G League affiliate, the Coachella Valley Lakers, during his career. Last season, he appeared in 42 games for JJ Redick’s team, but his role was limited. He averaged 8.9 minutes, the fewest of any Laker who played at least 30 games in 2025-26.
Even so, Redick says he sees plenty of upside in the former USC guard as he keeps developing.
"That guy's good," the Lakers coach said Thursday on ESPN LA. "He's a good basketball player. We're excited to have him and we're excited to coach him this year."
Bronny remains under contract with Los Angeles through the upcoming season. The Lakers signed him to a four-year rookie deal after taking him with the 55th pick in the 2024 draft, and his contract includes a $2.5 million team option for next season.
LeBron, now 41, left the Lakers this summer on a two-year, $8-million deal to join the Philadelphia 76ers after eight seasons in Los Angeles. Father and son made history together when they became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game, doing it during Bronny’s debut on Oct. 23, 2024.
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Now Reaves is staring at a bigger role in Los Angeles heading into next season, with the Lakers needing more from him on and off the ball. Meanwhile, James heads to Philadelphia on a two-year deal, where the 76ers suddenly look every bit like a superteam alongside Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown, leaving the Lakers to figure out what life looks like without one of the leagues defining figures. [Read more 🡒]