Bronny on LeBron's Lakers exit: 'He's got his own path'

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  Brian WindhorstSep 28, 2026, 08:58 PM ET

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  • ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010
  • Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years
  • Author of two books

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- When LeBron James chose to leave the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency over the summer he consulted his family on the decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. But when it came to his son/teammate Bronny, much was apparently left unsaid.

"We're men of very little words when it comes to talking about business and what we're going to do and how we feel about each other. So it wasn't really much (discussion) to be honest with you," Bronny James said Monday at Lakers' media day.

"He's got his own path and I got my own. He knows that I want to make a name for myself and I want to continue my career and keep growing as a player. And he knows that I want to focus on that. So he decided to do that."

LeBron and Bronny have routinely been in unique situations in league history. Whether it was opening night two years ago when the father-and-son entered the game together or last year in the playoffs where they combined to deliver a 10-0 run during a playoff victory over the Houston Rockets. Navigating a complex free agency where the father leaves and the son stays is another one for the books.

Bronny James, whose $2.3 million contract for this season is guaranteed, said that he's spent the summer focusing on his role backing up Lakers guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. He played in 42 games last season and eight playoff games.

"You guys know me as Bronny. My real name is LeBron. I've been doing this for however long," Bronny James said. "It's a motivating factor for me just getting up every day and trying to prove myself as Bronny instead of LeBron."

Though LeBron and Bronny might not have spoken about the move much, Bronny does wish his father well and is looking for to the teams' first match up against each other on Christmas in L.A.

"I'm happy for him and excited to where their season goes," Bronny James said. "I'm excited to see him on Christmas. I'm excited to play against him on Christmas, so that's going to be good."

Not having LeBron is a significant adjustment for the Lakers and not just for his son. L.A. has nine new players and are trying to focus on this season and not on the past, which includes LeBron James' departure. It is the start of the first season without James since 2017-18.

"It was kind of sad (that he left), playing with LeBron was amazing," Doncic said about James' departure. "There's a lot of things I learned from him and we all know who LeBron James is. We spent time together and it was amazing."