Similar to a father, similar to a son!Like his renowned father, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., the firstborn son of LeBron James is fast making a name for himself in the basketball world.
The Los Angeles Lakers player and his 2013 bride, Savannah James, have three children together. The eldest James child, Bronny, is eighteen years old. He and his basketball-playing brother Bryce were born before their parents’ union, while their younger sister Zhuri joined the family in 2014.
With his time in high school officially over, Bronny is quickly rising to the top of the NBA’s wanted list of athletes. He is regarded as one of the top five point guards in the nation by ESPN. Although LeBron hopes that Bronny will be selected by his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, in the 2024 NBA Draft, the young player will first attend the University of Southern California, where he will play under his father’s number.
In July 2023, during team practice, the college student experienced a heart arrest. A James family representative stated, “Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital.”
A few days later, the young athlete was released from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
LeBron revealed that he is undoubtedly considering retiring after taking a hard hit during the 2023 Western Conference Finals. To play in the NBA with his son is still the only dream he has for basketball.
“I need to be on the floor with my boy; I got to be on the floor with Bronny,” stated LeBron. “In a matchup against him or in the same uniform.”Bronny, LeBron James’ son, has committed to USC. A legend in basketball says, “I’m proud of him.”
This sentiment was previously expressed by the four-time NBA champion in Sports Illustrated in 2022. I threw it out there because I enjoy communicating with the basketball gods and seeing if things work out. I’ve always talked to the basketball gods and set goals for my career, and they’ve listened to all of them. In his cover story, LeBron stated, “Hopefully, they can listen to this last one, too.”
Discover everything there is to know about Bronny James, the elder son of LeBron James.
LeBron won’t retire until he plays in the NBA with Bronny
LeBron claims he is dedicated to playing on the same team as his oldest child during his final NBA season, regardless of the team or money. The renowned athlete declared in 2022 that he would do “whatever it takes” to realize his dream in an interview with The Athletic.
“My son and I will play my final year together. I’ll be wherever Bronny happens to be. If I could play with my son for a year, I would do anything. At that point, LeBron informed the site, “It’s not about the money.”
LeBron played for the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers during his career before joining the Lakers in 2018. LeBron suggests he’s willing to play his final season as a professional with a different team despite his lack of championships.
Bronny led his high school basketball team to victory against LeBron’s alma mater in 2019
LeBron was present in the stands as Bronny and his team defeated LeBron’s old mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, in the 2019 Scholastic Play by Play Classic. Bronny made a layup in the closing seconds of the game to give Sierra Canyon School the advantage, according to Yahoo! Sports. With a 59-56 triumph over St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Sierra emerged victorious.
The pleased father shared a touching Instagram photo to commemorate the “story book moment.” He added, “I had such a weird feeling last night!” next to a carousel of images and videos from the big event. “Watching my son compete in our home state against my alma mater, St. VM, who is still led by Coach Dru Joyce II, my mentor and father figure, who guided and coached me both on and off the court throughout my childhood.”
LeBron claimed that although it was “so eerie” to watch Bronny face his alma mater and win, it was also a “special” occasion that “meant the world to me to be there in attendance.”
The player remarked, “It was an unbelievable moment for @Bronny to play the best game of his young high school career so far, make the biggest play of the game, and walk away winning the MVP in his/our home state and with his family and friends.”
Bronny was six months younger than LeBron was when he appeared on his first Sports Illustrated cover
LeBron James is not the only member of the James family’s sports team to appear on the Sports Illustrated cover. Bronny shared the magazine cover in July 2021 with his fellow e-sports teammates from FaZe Clan.
During a Jimmy Kimmel Live! appearance, LeBron praised his son Bronny’s recent accomplishment, stating, “Video games are his thing.”
As expected, the father-son rivalry began when LeBron asserted that he was younger than Bronny upon landing his first SI cover in 2002, despite the remarkable accomplishment. Bronny looked through the records, eager to prove his father incorrect.
LeBron reminisced to the viewers of the show: “You know I was younger than you, right?'” when he appeared on the cover. After doing some investigation, he said, “Dad, no, you were actually six months older than me.” We didn’t have phones when I was growing up like that. All these kids had them. I’m the youngest man in the family now that I work for Sports Illustrated.
Bronny had been sixteen years old at the time. LeBron, meanwhile, made his SI cover debut at the age of 17 while sporting his St. Vincent-St. Mary high school jersey.
LeBron and Bronny are both endorsed by Nike
In October 2022, Bronny officially became a Nike athlete, following in his father’s footsteps, to celebrate turning eighteen. One of five student-athletes to sign endorsement deals with the multibillion-dollar sports organization was the budding basketball sensation. Three of the athletes, including Bronny, were high school students.
Ever since his professional career began, LeBron has been affiliated with Nike. The ecstatic father wrote, “The Legacy Continues On!” in a joyous Instagram post to welcome his kid into the Nike family. Well done, Young King!
LeBron and Bronny played in the McDonald’s All American Game 20 years apart
Following in his father’s footsteps, Bronny was selected as one of the 24 male athletes from across the country to appear in the McDonald’s Annual All-American Game in March 2023. The prestigious showcase was held at Houston’s Toyota Center. Bronny scored 15 points in the exhibition game for team West, but team East ultimately prevailed by a three-point margin, according to The Sporting News. Bronny wore his number 23 shirt in memory of his father.
LeBron, who participated in the 2003 all-star game, announced his son’s exciting news to followers on Instagram. “Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee @bronny!!!!!! Best wishes, son! Very, very proud of you!” Below a screenshot of Team West’s player lineup, LeBron wrote “Remain yourself at all times, no matter what!” You really are incredible! #JamesGang👑.”
LeBron and Bronny are each other’s biggest fans
Over the years, LeBron and Bronny have enjoyed many victories as a father-son team as well as as separate players. Bronny got a front-row ticket to LeBron’s insane run in the 2022–2023 NBA season. In February 2023, LeBron not only became the first NBA player to ever achieve 10,000 points in assists and rebounds, but he also broke the record for the most points scored by an NBA player ever.
When LeBron scored his 38,388th point in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the new record holder. Bronny celebrated with his dad on the court as he saw LeBron’s historic shot on television.
“Tonight, I actually felt like I was sitting on top of the arena when that shot went in and the roar from the arena came from the crowd,” LeBron told reporters following the game. “I had a chance to accept it and take a look around when everything suddenly stopped.”Supporting his son Bronny at the McDonald’s All-American Game, LeBron James is ecstatic.
LeBron organized his family to support Bronny on his final night at Sierra Canyon as well. While their parents and younger sister watched from the bleachers, the rising star enjoyed sharing the court with his younger brother, who also plays for Sierra Canyon. After yet another successful night, Bronny got together for pictures with his family.
“Bronny, I’m so damn proud of the young man you’ve become!” In his post-match Instagram homage to Bronny, LeBron wrote: “We honored you on Senior Night yesterday! I’m amazed at how quickly time is passing, but I haven’t taken being your father for granted for even a single second.”
Bronny will play basketball for USC
Bronny declared on Instagram in May 2023 that he would be attending USC to advance his studies and basketball career.
Bronny wrote, “Fight On ✌🏾 #committed,” in the caption. The recently recruited college player included a picture of himself wearing his Sierra Canyon School jersey in the Trojans’ locker room at USC’s Galen Center, which he will eventually call home. More than two million people have liked and commented on his post, including former professional ball players Nick Young and USC alumni.
LeBron, in the meantime, was gushing about his son’s enormous accomplishments nonstop. “I’m happy for him. He declared, “This is an amazing thing,” at a recent press conference following the game. Bronny is the first “of the James Gang to go to college,” LeBron continued.
“Obviously, his dad didn’t go to school,” he said. His mother did not attend college. I think my mother briefly visited a community college or something, but she was unable to spend much time in the classroom since I was always chasing after her.
“It’s very, very, very exciting, very humbling, and a great moment for our family,” added LeBron.
On May 18, 2023, Bronny signed his letter of intent to attend USC, surrounded by his father and relatives.
The USC Men’s Basketball Twitter account posted a picture of Bronny wearing his red and gold basketball uniform in June 2023. According to the picture, the college student will play next season with his dad’s number, No. 6.
“FIRST LOOK: Bronny James will wear No. 6 for the Trojans. 👀,” the caption said.
In July 2023, Bronny had a heart arrest.
Bronny experienced a heart episode in July 2023 while practicing basketball at USC.
A spokesman for the James family issued an explanation the next day, saying, “Medical personnel were able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital. He is no longer in the ICU, and his status is stable.”
The spokesperson continued, “LeBron and Savannah wish to publicly send their deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work and dedication to the safety of their athletes.”
The day following Bronny’s medical emergency, Brody posted a picture on his Instagram Story as a way of showing his brother’s support. As they strolled together, Bryce showed Bronny something on his phone in the photo.
LeBron provided an update on Bronny’s condition later that week. The father of three posted on Twitter, saying, “Everyone is doing great.” We sense your love and have our family together, safe and well.
“We’ll talk more when we’re ready, but for now, I just wanted to say thank you so much for all of your support!*JamesGang* “LeBron continued.
That same week, Bronny was released from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and on July 28, he was seen having a fun-filled evening with his family. The party dined at a Santa Monica, California, Italian restaurant.
“LeBron and the family are regular guests” of the restaurant, an insider told PEOPLE, adding that Bronny “was pretty quiet, but did seem to enjoy the food.” The person who was close to the family said that “LeBron kept expressing how grateful he is” as individuals sent their well wishes for Bronny.
A James family representative stated in August that the family was “very confident in Bronny’s full recovery and return to basketball in the very near future.”
Bronny joined his dad and brother on a 2022 issue of Sports Illustrated
In August 2022, LeBron posed with his boys Bryce and Bronny for the magazine. The headline, “Chosen Sons,” was a reference to LeBron’s well-known SI cover from 2002, which earned him the moniker “The Chosen One.”
“I like to throw things out in the airwaves, but I’m not one to say what’s going to happen in the next two to three years,” LeBron said in response to a question from reporter Chris Ballard about whether he intends to stay in the NBA long enough to play with both of his sons. In addition to being a visionary, I’m a guy who enjoys the present.”
However, LeBron stated that ultimately, it all depends on how prepared his body and mind are for the task. “I feel like I could play for quite a while,” he stated. “So it’s all up to my body, but more importantly, my mind.”
LeBron continued, “If my mind can stay sharp, fresh, and motivated, then the sky’s not even a limit for me,” LeBron said. “I can do more than that. However, we’ll see.”