Bronny James Focused On Getting To NBA, Not Playing With Dad: ‘There Needs To Be That Divide Between Bronny And LeBron’

“I would be happy about getting to the league instead of me thinking about playing with my dad,” Bronny said, via ESPN. “That’s not my mindset or not at all. I’m just trying to put in the work and see where it takes me from there.”

Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks for USC this season while shooting 36.6% from the field, 26.7% from beyond the arc and 67.6% from the free-throw line. 

The 19-year-old Bronny finished with four points and four rebounds during the combine scrimmage on Tuesday. LeBron’s son crushed the 3-point star shooting drill on Monday, going 19/25 from beyond the arc.

“Bronny was just a nickname that I was just given when I was younger,” Bronny said. “But everything that follows my dad, people just try to link me with that and all the greatness that he’s achieved. I haven’t done anything yet, so I feel like there needs to be that divide between Bronny and LeBron. Everyone’s heard this before. I just want to have people know my name is Bronny James and not being identified as just LeBron James’ son. I feel like that would great.”

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, LeBron is expected to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, who are interested in drafting Bronny. LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers, who lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. 

No father has played with or against his son in the NBA. Bronny has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He has until May 29 to decide whether to stay in the draft or return to college.

“My job is just to play a role and play the right way, make sure I get my teammates involved and stuff like that,” Bronny said. “But again, I was just super grateful for the opportunity to be out there. I felt like I should be out there.”