The era of LeBron James in Los Angeles has officially come to an end. This raises questions about what lies ahead for his son, Bronny James.
On June 30, 2026, the superstar made his future plans clear. Roughly four weeks afterward, the four-time league MVP revealed his decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Through a post on social media, he expressed his gratitude to the city of Los Angeles and the Lakers franchise for his eight seasons with the team.
Meanwhile, his son, Bronny James, continues to be a part of the Lakers’ lineup.
Having recently completed his sophomore year with the franchise, speculation has been swirling across the basketball world regarding a potential move to Philadelphia to team up with his dad.
During the fourth quarter of Game 3 in the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) passes the ball to guard Bronny James (9) at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on April 24, 2026.
Could Bronny James Face a Trade?
The Lakers recently converted the young player’s salary into a fully guaranteed deal for the next campaign.
In the upcoming year, he is set to earn $2.3 million, marking the third season of the four-year contract he originally inked back in 2024. Los Angeles holds a team option for the final year of this agreement, which would cover the 2027-28 season.
According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, sports agent Rich Paul emphasized that the father and son “are not a package deal,” indicating that there are currently no intentions of pairing them up again in Philadelphia.
Where Does Bronny James Stand with the Lakers?
The Lakers organization appears to fully back and support Bronny James in his development.
He originally entered the league when the Lakers selected him in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft with the 55th overall pick.
The upcoming season provides him with a chance to further build on the progress he made in his sophomore year.
An uptick in his appearances on the court suggests that head coach J.J. Redick is gaining more confidence in his abilities.
“He has made tremendous strides,” Redick remarked on an earlier occasion regarding the guard. “Our coaching staff believes in what he can do.”
During his debut 2024-25 season, his court time was limited to only 6.7 minutes per game, and he posted an average of 2.3 points across 27 appearances. This past season, however, his role expanded as he took the court for 42 contests, contributing 2.9 points and distributing 1.2 assists per matchup.
“I genuinely think Bronny’s desire is to remain right here in Los Angeles,” noted team color commentator Mychal Thompson during a segment on ESPN LA radio. “… In my opinion, keeping him around is the best move so he can forge his own path. He’s an adult now. … I am convinced he possesses the talent to maintain a career in the NBA for a long time.”
In his first year, his postseason action was limited to just a pair of games where he played for a total of four minutes without recording any statistical contributions. As a sophomore, however, he logged an average of 5.3 minutes over eight playoff appearances, registering 1.5 points and one assist per game.
Though the former USC Trojan sat out of the NBA Summer League with the Lakers earlier this month, he was still present and supporting his teammates in Las Vegas.
Los Angeles Lakers Depth Chart
PG: Luka Doncic, Collin Sexton, Jaden Hardy, Bronny James
SG: Austin Reaves, Cameron Carr, Matisse Thybulle
SF: Quentin Grimes, Jake LaRavia, Ziaire Williams
PF: Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jarred Vanderbilt, Adou Thiero
C: Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney, Sandro Mamukelashvili
This piece was initially published on USA TODAY: What lies ahead for Bronny James once LeBron departs the Lakers for the 76ers
