Bronny James facts for kids
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James in 2019
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| No. 9 – Los Angeles Lakers | |
|---|---|
| Point guard / shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 6, 2004 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 | |
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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). Before joining the NBA, Bronny was a highly-rated young player. He was even named a McDonald's All-American in 2023, which is a big honor for high school basketball players.
Bronny played one year of college basketball for the USC Trojans. Then, the Lakers picked him in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft. He is the oldest son of famous basketball player LeBron James Sr.. They are the first father and son to play on the same team in the NBA at the same time!
Contents
Bronny's Early Life and Basketball Journey
Bronny James was born on October 6, 2004, in Akron, Ohio. His dad, LeBron James, was already a famous NBA player, and his mom is Savannah Brinson. His parents got married in 2013.
When he was a kid, Bronny played different sports like basketball and soccer. His dad didn't let him play football or ice hockey because he was worried about injuries.
By the time Bronny was 10, videos of his youth basketball games were getting a lot of attention across the country. He played for several youth teams, including the Miami City Ballers and the North Coast Blue Chips. He also played for Old Trail School in Ohio, leading his middle school team to a tournament win.
In 2018, Bronny started attending Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California. He couldn't join the main varsity team right away because of school rules for eighth graders. In his first game for the school, he scored 27 points. In 2019, he started playing in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) with a team called Strive for Greatness.
High School Basketball Career
Freshman Year at Sierra Canyon
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In May 2019, Bronny moved to Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, for high school. His younger brother, Bryce, also joined him there. The Sierra Canyon basketball team was one of the best in the country. Many of their games were even shown on ESPN!
Bronny made his high school debut on November 21, 2019, scoring 10 points. In December, he scored 15 points and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in a game against his dad's old high school. In January 2020, he scored a season-high 17 points. During one game, a fan threw an orange peel at him, which caused a short stop in the game.
His freshman season ended early because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sierra Canyon had a great record of 30 wins and 4 losses. Bronny played in all 34 games, averaging 4.1 points per game.
Sophomore Year Challenges
In November 2020, Bronny played his first preseason game as a sophomore. In February 2021, he had a knee injury (a torn meniscus) during practice and needed surgery. Because of this and the COVID-19 pandemic, he missed most of his sophomore season. He returned for the final game, scoring seven points in a close loss.
Junior Year and Growth
In his junior year, Bronny's team was led by other talented players. In December 2021, he scored 19 points in a win against his dad's old high school team. His team had a good season with 26 wins and 5 losses. Bronny averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
Senior Year and National Recognition
For his senior year, Bronny took on a bigger role and played alongside his younger brother, Bryce. In August 2022, he played in exhibition games in Europe, scoring 25 points in one game in Paris.
In October, a preseason game was stopped because of a disturbance in the stands. Bronny missed the first two regular season games due to illness. He returned in November, scoring 13 points in his debut. In January 2023, he missed more games with a knee injury.
Despite some challenges, Bronny had a strong senior season, averaging 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He was chosen to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys Game, which is a huge honor for top high school players. He also played in the Nike Hoop Summit.
College Recruiting and Commitment
Even when Bronny was 10 years old, college basketball programs were already interested in him! His dad thought it was too early to be recruiting such young kids. By the time he was in high school, experts saw him as a top college prospect.
He was ranked as a "four-star recruit," which means he was considered one of the best players in his age group. In May 2023, Bronny announced that he would play college basketball for the USC Trojans.
| 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 |
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| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 22 247Sports: 19 ESPN: 20 | ||||||
Sources: |
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College Basketball Career
In March 2023, some experts thought Bronny might be a top pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
On July 24, 2023, Bronny had a health scare during a practice session at USC. He was quickly taken to the hospital and was released a few days later. Doctors found that he had a heart issue that needed to be managed.
Less than five months later, Bronny made his first college game appearance for the USC Trojans on December 10. He scored four points and had three rebounds. On December 30, he scored a career-high 15 points. Bronny played in 25 games for USC, starting six of them. He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
On April 5, 2024, Bronny announced that he would enter the 2024 NBA draft. He also kept the option open to transfer to another college. In May 2024, he was medically cleared to play in the NBA. He worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.
Professional Basketball Career
Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers
On June 27, 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers picked Bronny James with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. This was a special moment because it meant he would play on the same team as his dad, LeBron James Sr. They became the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time!
Bronny signed his contract with the Lakers on July 3, 2024. He played for the Lakers in the NBA Summer League and in six preseason games.
On October 22, 2024, Bronny and his dad made history by playing together in the Lakers' first game of the season against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bronny played for three minutes and got one rebound in the Lakers' win. On October 30, he scored his first NBA points.
Bronny has also spent time playing for the South Bay Lakers, which is a team in the NBA G League. This league helps young players develop their skills. On December 12, 2024, he scored a game-high 30 points for the South Bay Lakers. On January 24, 2025, he scored a new career-high of 31 points.
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 his shooting and defense. He's good at shooting when he catches the ball and can also shoot while moving.
He is a strong defender, especially against point guards, and is known for his good anticipation. People also say he has a high "basketball IQ," meaning he understands the game very well, and he likes to pass the ball to his teammates. While he's good at handling the ball, he sometimes finds it hard to get away from defenders.
Career Statistics
College Stats
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | USC | 25 | 6 | 19.3 | .366 | .267 | .676 | 2.8 | 2.1 | .8 | .2 | 4.8 |
Personal Life and Interests
Bronny James' godfather is NBA All-Star Chris Paul, who is a close friend of his father.
In 2020, Bronny joined an esports (video gaming) organization called FaZe Clan. He was expected to stream games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone under the name "FaZe Bronny." In June 2021, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine with other members of FaZe Clan.
Bronny has a very large following on social media. When he started his Instagram account in May 2019, he gained one million followers on his very first day! By the end of high school, he had over seven million followers.
He has also signed deals with big companies like Nike and Beats by Dre. These deals allow him to earn money from his name, image, and likeness (NIL) while still being a student athlete.
Basketball Jersey Numbers
Bronny has often worn the number 0 jersey because it's the number worn by one of his favorite NBA players, Russell Westbrook. He has also worn the number 23 jersey to honor his father. For his professional debut in the NBA in 2024, Bronny chose the number 9 jersey. He picked this number to honor the musician Juice Wrld, referring to Juice Wrld's 2017 debut EP called 9 9 9.
See also
In Spanish: Bronny James para niños
- List of second-generation NBA players
Images for kids
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James in 2019
