james lebron has already made waves saying he intends to play his final NBA season with his eldest son, Bronny, wherever it is. Turns out he might have another son in mind as well.
Talk with Sports Illustrated’s Chris Ballardthe Los Angeles Lakers superstar has hinted that he would like to stay in the NBA long enough to play not only with Bronny, who is now entering his senior year of high school, but also with his 15-year-old son, Bryce.
Excerpt from Sports Illustrated:
Yet the wheels are already turning. The free agency deals and exchanges swirling around us? “I would definitely look at who got the first-round picks in 2024, 2025, things of that nature; 2026, ’27. I pay attention to that kind of stuff.
I do the math — 2027? — and nods at Bryce. “Is there any chance you’re staying for that guy too?”
LeBron smiles. “I feel like I could play for quite a while. So it’s all down to my body, but more importantly, my mind. If my mind can stay sharp, fresh and motivated, then heaven doesn’t is not even a limit for me. I can go beyond. But we will see.
james recently signed a two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Lakers which will allow him to become a free agent after Bronny’s freshman year of college (or a year of post-high school G League or another league).
Currently ranked as a four-star freshman and No. 61 prospect in the Class of 2023 by RivalsBronny, who already signs NIL contracts, might take a long time to be a legit and unique prospect considering he’s only 6-foot-2 and didn’t really break out as a game-breaker in high school (although his Sierra Canyon team has plenty of mouths to feed).
In theory, however, NBA teams could throw him a fair pick in an attempt to land James on an undermarket deal. By saying he wants to play with Bronny (fun fact: James’s family told SI he didn’t tell them he was going to say that), he’s basically giving teams the chance to draft LeBron James with a second-round pick.
If James succeeded, he would become the first NBA player to play alongside his son and only the fourth athlete overall in major North American sports leagues, joining Gordie Howe, Ken Griffey and Tim Raines. With only two years to go, it seems entirely possible, but adding Bryce to the mix stretches the timeline a bit.
Can LeBron James play long enough to ride Bryce?
Almost certainly.
There are no sure things when you plan five years into the future with the NBA, but if there’s one player who can play effectively into his 40s, it’s James. Even at 37, he’s still a perennial All-Star, though injuries quietly plagued him during his tenure at the Lakers.
No one ever said James had to be still james lebron when Bryce, or even Bronny, reaches the NBA for the milestone to matter or the moment to mean less. Vince Carter played until the age of 43 and still had his flowers. Udonis Haslem was more a coach than a player for half a decade.
Barring a horrific injury, James playing in the 2026-27 or 2027-28 season seems very possible, if not likely. Thanks to his otherworldly basketball IQ, passing, defensive versatility, and decently solid 3-point shooting, it’s hard to see his current All-Star level skills degrade to the point that no NBA team wants that.
The big question is, will Bryce be ready for the NBA then? He’d already be as tall as Bronny, so he’s more likely to reach typical NBA height, but it’s impossible to say if the skill level will be there.