Bronny James isn’t sounding shaken by LeBron’s exit from the Lakers.
At Luka Doncic’s basketball minicamp this summer, the 21-year-old guard brushed off a fan’s question about his father leaving Los Angeles. His response was simple: “It’s whatever it’s my dad” 😂😭
That attitude fits the way Bronny has handled plenty of change already. Drafted 55th overall in 2024 out of USC, he entered the league after a difficult college path that was interrupted by a cardiac arrest before his Freshman year. He fought his way back, regained his strength, and earned his place with the Lakers alongside LeBron.
Their time together made history as the first father-son duo in NBA history. It was a milestone moment for both of them, and for Bronny it also offered something less glamorous but just as important: confidence, reps, and a smoother jump into the pro game.
So when LeBron left the Lakers this summer, the speculation started fast. Some wondered whether Bronny would be moved on as well.
Others figured he might follow his dad to his next team. Instead, he’s staying put.
Even with LeBron set to suit up in Philadelphia next season, Bronny is still around the Lakers, which he showed by being at Luka’s minicamp.
From the Lakers’ side, there’s still a clear case for keeping him. Bronny averaged 2.7 points, 0.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game while shooting 40.9%. Those numbers don’t point to a major rotation role, but he brings stability, maturity, and a strong work ethic behind the scenes.
The team also sees a path for him as a backup point guard. They value his ball-handling, his basketball IQ, and the fact that he’s already well-liked in the locker room.
On a near-minimum contract, he’s a low-cost piece. If his shooting improves, that only makes him more useful.
There’s still some uncertainty hanging over his future. The Lakers hold a $2.4 million team option for 2027-28, which makes this season a big one for his place on the roster.
But Bronny doesn’t sound like someone worried about the noise. He’s confident in what he can do, and he’s willing to keep grinding to make more of an impact on the floor.
And if the Lakers do face the 76ers next season, Bronny will get one more chance to line up against the father who helped get him here in the first place.
In Other News...
Former Nets Wing Just Gave Brooklyn Fans A Tough Reality Check
Ziaire Williams is back on the move, and this time his path leads to Los Angeles on a one-year veteran minimum deal with the Lakers. The former Nets wing arrives with a clear role in mind as a reserve who can stretch the floor and defend on the perimeter, while also reuniting with former high school teammate Bronny James, who remains with the Lakers as he enters his third season.
For Los Angeles, it is a low-cost addition with a familiar modern appeal: a wing who can fit next to bigger names without needing the ball in his hands. For Brooklyn fans, it is another reminder of a player once in their orbit finding a new home elsewhere, even as the Lakers hope Williams can settle into the kind of three-and-D role that has become increasingly valuable over the course of a long season. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Kuminga Pursuit Just Hit A Roster Problem They Can't Ignore
Jonathan Kumingas market appears to be narrowing, and the Lakers have moved into a familiar kind of limbo that comes with chasing a talented young player without a clean path to get him. With Cleveland out of the picture after choosing Peyton Watson, Los Angeles is now one of the teams most closely linked to Kuminga as it tries to keep the door open on a deal that would add another high-upside piece to the roster.
The issue is less about interest than logistics. A sign-and-trade would require cooperation from the Hawks, who would rather be compensated with draft capital than take back players, and the Lakers do not have a lot of either draft assets or open roster spots to work with. So even as the sides move toward a contract, the real question is whether Los Angeles can actually clear the deck enough to make the move happen. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Still Have One Frontcourt Decision That Could Shape This Season
With LeBron James out, the Lakers have spent the offseason figuring out what a more Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves-centered roster should look like, and the frontcourt is still the clearest area where the fit can be upgraded. The team has been watching the market for help at center, weighing both trade and signing routes as it tries to add size and stability behind the stars who will drive the offense.
One name that keeps making sense in that search is Isaiah Stewart, whose defensive profile would give Los Angeles a tougher interior presence and another layer of frontcourt depth. For a team trying to survive the early part of the season while reworking its identity, the decision on whether to add a big man like Stewart could end up shaping more than just the rotation. [Read more 🡒]