It’s never easy fitting into the shoes of your mom or dad, but imagine having to fill the shoes of LA Lakers star LeBron James. That’s the exact situation that LeBron James’ oldest son, Bronny James, finds himself in every single day.
While only 16 years of age, young Bronny James has developed quite a reputation for himself already, thanks to his high profile as a basketball superstar-in-the-making and, of course, his father.
However, that’s hardly a walk in the park. There are many other players, such as Michael Jordan’s sons, who know firsthand that your father’s stardom doesn’t guarantee you a spot on an NBA roster. Let’s learn more about LeBron James Jr (a.k.a. Bronny James) and his path up until this point.
A Star is Born From a Star
Hate him or love him, there’s no denying what LeBron James has meant to the basketball community. On the court, he’s one of the best players to ever put on a jersey. Off the court, he’s one of the most philanthropical athletes in the world. Take, for instance, the I Promise School. It’s a school LeBron founded in his hometown (Akron, Ohio) and has awarded hundreds of kids with free tuition.
He’s been a motivation for young athletes everywhere who aspire to be like him. That’s no different for LeBron James’ son, Bronny, who—for all intents and purposes—is a star in the making.
To the surprise of many, Lebron James ended up marrying his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson. Bronny is their eldest son, who now has two younger siblings, Bryce and Zhuri.
Contrary to popular belief, Bronny wasn’t trusted into the basketball limelight as a young one. LeBron and his wife encourage LeBron James Jr to play or try anything he pleased. The only restrictions were that Bronny wasn’t allowed to play football or hockey over concerns of his long-term health. This decision stemmed from research that was coming out around the time Bronny was in elementary school.
Bronny James’ Basketball Career
While it might seem odd to claim that a sixteen-year-old has a basketball career, his basketball history is as long as it is impressive. He’s been involved in numerous AAU basketball teams before he even hit high school, and was the leading force behind his middle school’s (Old Trail School) Independent School League tournament win.
As far as Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball is concerned, Bronny played for both the Miami City Ballers (fourth grade) and Gulf Coast Blue Chips.
Due to his name and his impressive skills, Bronny James joined the AAU team Strive for Greatness and competed in a U-16 Nike tournament (Nike EYBL). This was his chance to play against some of the most impressive recruits in the nation, many of which were older than him.
When LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bronny made the transition to California to play basketball. He enrolled at the Crossroads School but wasn’t allowed to join the varsity team right away. Why? Because the state of California’s athletic association has a rule against eighth-graders joining varsity teams from the get-go.
These days, Bronny James is playing point guard for the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers. For those who haven’t heard of Sierra Canyon, they’re only one of the most successful basketball programs in the country. The alumni of Sierra Canyon is enough to make your jaws drop. It includes names like Marvin Bagley III, Brandon Boston Jr, Jarron, and Jason Collins, and Cassius Stanley.
What Does The Future Look Like For LeBron James’ Son?
As part of the class of 2023, Bronny James still has a few years of high school left. But he is already being sought out by several of the nation’s most highly-coveted NCAA teams. This includes Kentucky, Duke, UNC, nearby UCLA, and more.
For those of you wondering why Bronny doesn’t plan on following in his father’s footsteps by going to the NBA right out of high school, the NBA currently has a rule requiring that players attend at least one year of college basketball to be eligible for the NBA Draft the following season. Talks have been held to eliminate this rule in the future, but it seems to be standing pat for at least a few more years.
While he has worn the jersey numbers 23 and 6 on occasion (as a nod to his father), Bronny prefers to wear the number 0 for his favorite NBA player (besides his dad), Russell Westbrook.
Bronny James’ Stardom Off the Court
Despite his amazing skill and popularity, LeBron James and his entire family (including Bronny) have always maintained a relatively private lifestyle. The entire family is very close-knitted and likes to keep to themselves.
That said, Bronny has quite the presence on social media, even though he’s only 16 years old. For example, at the time of creating this article, Bronny’s Instagram account has amassed 5.8 million followers.
Bronny posts videos of him and his dad often, such as the well-known James family “Taco Tuesday” family taco night. Fun fact, LeBron once tried to trademark “Taco Tuesday” stemming from those videos.
While he’s only 16, this young man shows potential and promise. While he might walk in his dad’s shadow at times, there’s no denying that Bronny can hold his own both on and off the court. In only a few years, he’ll be ready to take the next step in his basketball career!
You’ll See Plenty of LeBron James’ Son in the Future
Now that you’ve read about Bronny James, you know that the sky is the limit for him. You’re bound to hear more about him as his high school and overall basketball career continues to emerge.
For more NBA-related topics, be sure to read this article in which James Harden and Trae Young have had the NBA competition committee meet about their “unnatural shooting motions“.
Be sure to check in on Total Pro Sports often for more articles relating to LeBron James, Bronny James, and many more athletes that you’re interested in.
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