Bronny James facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bronny James

James in 2019
No. 9 – Los Angeles Lakers
Shooting guard / point guard
Personal information
Born	(2004-10-06) October 6, 2004 (age 20) Akron, Ohio, U.S.
High school	Sierra Canyon (Los Angeles, California)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College	USC (2023–2024)
NBA Draft	2024 / Round: 2 / Pick: 55th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Pro career	2024–present
League	NBA
Career history
2024–present	Los Angeles Lakers
2024–2025	→South Bay Lakers
Career highlights and awards
McDonald's All-American (2023)

LeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr. (born October 6, 2004) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bronny was a highly-rated player in high school. He was even named a McDonald's All-American in 2023.

He played one season of college basketball for the USC Trojans. Then, the Lakers chose him in the 2024 NBA draft. Bronny is the oldest child of famous basketball player LeBron James Sr.. They are the first father and son to play in the NBA at the same time.

Bronny's Early Life and Basketball Journey

James at the 2012 Miami Heat championship parade

Bronny James was born on October 6, 2004, in Akron, Ohio. His father was already an NBA star. Bronny grew up playing many sports. He loved basketball and soccer. His dad did not let him play football or ice hockey. This was because of safety worries.

By age 10, Bronny's basketball skills were already getting national attention. He played for youth teams like the Miami City Ballers. He also played for the North Coast Blue Chips. In middle school, he played for Old Trail School. He helped his team win a tournament.

In 2018, Bronny joined Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California. He scored 27 points in his first game there. In 2019, he started playing in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).

High School Basketball Career

Freshman Year at Sierra Canyon

James with Strive for Greatness in 2019

In May 2019, Bronny moved to Sierra Canyon School. This school is in Chatsworth, Los Angeles. His younger brother, Bryce, also joined him. Sierra Canyon had one of the best basketball teams in the country. Many of their games were shown on ESPN.

On November 21, 2019, Bronny played his first high school game. He scored 10 points. In December, he scored 15 points against his father's old high school. He was named the game's most valuable player (MVP). In January 2020, he scored a season-high 17 points.

The season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a freshman, Bronny averaged 4.1 points per game. He played in all 34 games for his team. Sierra Canyon finished with a great record of 30 wins and 4 losses.

Sophomore Year Challenges

In February 2021, Bronny had a tough time. He tore a part of his knee during practice. He needed surgery for this injury. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he had not played any official games yet.

He missed most of his sophomore season. Bronny returned for the final game in June. He scored seven points in a close loss. His team finished the season with 16 wins and 2 losses.

Junior Year Performance

In his junior year, Bronny's team was led by older players. On December 4, 2021, he scored 19 points in a win. This was against his father's old high school team. His team lost in the semifinals of a big tournament.

Sierra Canyon reached the regional final but lost. Bronny played through a hip injury in that game. The team ended the season with 26 wins and 5 losses. Bronny averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.

Senior Year and National Recognition

In his senior year, Bronny became a team leader. His younger brother, Bryce, also joined the team. In August 2022, they played exhibition games in Europe. Bronny scored 25 points in a game in Paris.

In October, a preseason game was stopped due to a fight in the stands. Bronny missed the first two regular season games due to illness. He returned in November, scoring 13 points. In his first home game, he scored 25 points.

Bronny missed some games in January 2023 with a knee injury. He scored 19 points in his return. Sierra Canyon had a tougher season than before. Bronny averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He led his team to a 23-11 record.

He was chosen to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys Game. He also played for the United States team in the Nike Hoop Summit. In the McDonald's game, he scored 15 points. He tied a record for most three-pointers made in that event. He also won the dunk contest. In the Nike Hoop Summit, he scored 11 points and helped his team win.

Choosing a College Team

Even when Bronny was 10, colleges were interested in him. His father thought this was too early for recruiting. By high school, experts saw him as a top college player. He was ranked as a four-star recruit. This means he was considered one of the best players in his age group.

In January 2023, news came out that Bronny was choosing between Ohio State, Oregon, and USC. On May 6, he announced he would go to USC.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Bronny James PG / SG	Los Angeles, CA	Sierra Canyon (CA)	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	May 6, 2023
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 89
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 22  247Sports: 19  ESPN: 20
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

College Basketball Career

In March 2023, some experts thought Bronny could be a top pick in the 2024 NBA draft. They saw him as one of the most improved young players.

On July 24, 2023, Bronny collapsed during a practice at USC. It was found that he had a cardiac arrest. This was caused by a heart problem he was born with. He was released from the hospital a few days later.

Less than five months later, Bronny played his first college game on December 10. He scored four points and had three rebounds. On December 30, he scored a career-high 15 points against Oregon State. On January 17, 2024, he played a season-high 30 minutes. He had 11 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Bronny played in USC's final 25 games. He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

On April 5, 2024, Bronny announced he would enter the 2024 NBA draft. He also kept the option to return to college. In early May 2024, doctors said he was healthy enough for the NBA draft. He worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

Professional Basketball Career

Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers (2024–Present)

On June 27, 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers picked Bronny James. He was the 55th player chosen in the 2024 NBA draft. This was a special moment. It meant he would play on the same team as his father, LeBron James. They became the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time. On July 3, he signed his contract with the Lakers. He played for the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Summer League. He also played six games during the preseason.

On October 22, 2024, Bronny and his father played their first NBA game together. This was against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bronny played for three minutes and got one rebound. The Lakers won the game. On October 30, he scored his first NBA basket. He also had two assists and a steal.

During his first season, Bronny has also played for the South Bay Lakers. This is a team in the NBA G League. On December 12, 2024, he scored a game-high 30 points for South Bay. On January 24, 2025, he scored a career-high 31 points. On January 31, 2025, he returned to the Lakers. He scored five points in a win.

On March 20, 2025, Bronny scored 17 points for the Lakers. This was his first time scoring double-digits in an NBA game. On March 24, 2025, he scored a career-high 39 points for the South Bay Lakers. He also had seven rebounds and four assists. In the Lakers' last regular-season game on April 13, Bronny started for the first time. He scored four points in the game.

Bronny's Playing Style

Bronny James is about 6 feet, 3 inches tall. He can play as a point guard or a shooting guard. Experts say his best skills are shooting and defense. He is good at shooting when he catches the ball. He can also shoot while moving.

Bronny is a strong defender against point guards. People have praised his quickness and effort on defense. In 2023, an ESPN expert said Bronny was becoming one of the best defenders in his class. He is also known for his high basketball IQ. This means he understands the game very well. He is also a good passer.

He can handle the ball well. However, he sometimes finds it hard to get away from defenders. His ability to drive to the basket and finish shots can be improved. But he is strong enough to score even when defenders are close. Bronny's playing style has been compared to players like De'Anthony Melton and Jrue Holiday.

About Nepotism in Sports

Some people have called Bronny James a "nepo baby". This means they think his father's fame helped him get opportunities. For example, some wondered if his father's influence helped him get picked for the 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys Game.

The Los Angeles Lakers also faced similar questions. They chose Bronny in the 2024 NBA draft. This allowed him to play with his father. Some people thought he wasn't quite ready for the NBA yet. An ESPN analyst said that Bronny's agent, Rich Paul, might have told other teams not to pick him. The agent might have said Bronny would play overseas if another team chose him. However, another ESPN reporter said that this kind of influence happens often in the NBA.

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

NBA Playoffs

College Statistics

Bronny's Personal Life

Bronny James's godfather is NBA All-Star Chris Paul. Chris Paul is a close friend of Bronny's father.

In 2020, Bronny joined an esports group called FaZe Clan. He was expected to play video games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone. In June 2021, Bronny was on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. He was with members of FaZe Clan.

Bronny has many followers on social media. In May 2019, he started an Instagram account. He gained one million followers on his first day. By the end of high school, he had over seven million followers.

Experts thought Bronny could earn a lot of money from his name, image, and likeness (NIL) in college. In February 2022, he applied for trademarks for his name. These included Bronny, BJ Jr., and Bronald. In high school, he signed deals with big companies like Nike and Beats by Dre.

Basketball Jersey Numbers

Bronny has worn the number 0 jersey. This is because it is the number worn by his favorite NBA player, Russell Westbrook. He has also worn the number 23 jersey to honor his father. In July 2024, Bronny chose the number 9 jersey for his NBA debut. He picked this number to honor musician Juice Wrld. It refers to Juice Wrld's 2017 music project, 9 9 9.

See also

In Spanish: Bronny James para niños

• List of second-generation NBA players