Bronny James’ Draft Status Could Complicate LeBron James’ Future Plans

LeBron James has made his desire to play with his son Bronny before his career is over very public over the years.

In February 2022, James told The Athletic his last year “will be played with my son,” adding that he would “do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year.” James was also involved in a Beats by Dre commercial in October that featured his wife Savannah calling him to offer inspiration.

“Tell them you’re not done till you play with your son,” Savannah said in a voiceover on top of Bronny’s face, before the video flashed to his middle son Bryce. “Then do that again.”

There’s just one problem: In his freshman season at USC, Bronny hasn’t looked ready for the NBA yet.

The 6-foot-4 guard has come off the bench for the Trojans, averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 19 games. Scouts like his defense but are concerned by his 27-percent shooting from behind the arc, as well as his lack of creation thus far at his height.

Bronny’s draft status became a topic of conversation on Monday when ESPN’s NBA draft insider Jonathan Givony dropped his 2025 mock draft, which included the 19-year-old in the second round. While the James family could probably get Bronny on the Lakers roster next season by pushing the right buttons this summer, another year—and more importantly, a fully healthy offseason after his scary cardiac arrest over the summer—could help Bronny’s draft status, development and NBA future as a whole.

But that could also complicate his father’s plans.

James has two years left on his contract, but he has a player option next season. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported recently that James might be looking for a multi-year deal worth “nine figures” over the summer (which would mean turning down the player option and becoming a free agent). James, who turned 39 in December, is averaging 25 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game despite his status as the NBA’s oldest player. He would certainly be able to command another contract if he opted out of his deal.

But as James nears 40, teams might be hesitant to offer a highly lucrative contract that extends out for years. Previously, James’ contract was structured to intersect conveniently with Bronny’s entrance into the NBA. If Bronny stays in college for another year, James will have an interesting decision to make: Opt out and sign a new deal (and work through any complications that then arise if Bronny is drafted elsewhere), or pick up the final year of his deal and hope that his market value remains high when he hits the unrestricted free-agent market at age 40.

Over the All-Star break, LeBron was asked about how he wants to end his career.

“I am a Laker. I’ve been very happy being a Laker the last 6 years, and hopefully it stays that way,” James said. “But I don’t have the answer to how long it is, or what uniform I’ll be in. Hopefully it is with the Lakers. It’s a great organization, so many greats. But we’ll see. I don’t know how it’s going to end, but it’s coming.”

The Lakers are notably better statistically with James on the floor than when he sits, so presumably they want the same thing. Whether James’ plans to play Bronny end up fitting in with those desires remains to be seen.