As NBA free agency continues to unfold, questions remain about what lies ahead for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The 40-year-old superstar recently opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025–26 season, suggesting a short-term commitment while leaving the door open depending on the team’s offseason moves. One person who was recently asked about the uncertainty is LeBron’s son, Bronny James, who’s entering his second season in the league.
Bronny is set to participate in the California Classic Summer League in San Francisco as part of the Lakers’ roster. The former USC guard is expected to have a larger role in the NBA this season compared to his rookie campaign.
This marks Bronny’s second Summer League stint with the Lakers. During his rookie Summer League, he appeared in four games, averaging 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game while shooting 35% from the field. As he prepares for this year’s games, Bronny made it clear he’s not letting outside noise distract him—especially rumors surrounding his father’s future.
“Actually, one of my friends called me, talking about where [I was going to play next season], what I was going to do because they saw my dad [in the news],” Bronny said, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I didn’t see it. He called me. I was like, ‘Yeah, I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ … I don’t really pay attention to that stuff. There’s a lot of stuff going around that I don’t pay attention to”.
Bronny James #9 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Bronny also revealed that he doesn’t discuss the topic with his father, adding that LeBron has advised him to ignore the rumors and stay focused on his own development.
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“We don’t really talk about it much,” he continued. “I think when stuff like that does come up, he just tells me to not worry about it, to not even pay attention to it [and] just lock into what you have going on right now. And that’s what’s going to get me better and to keep me focused. I think it’s good that he tells me to not pay attention to that stuff”.
Bronny James’ rookie season with the Lakers
Bronny appeared in 27 NBA games for the Lakers during the 2024–25 season, averaging 2.3 points across 6.7 minutes per game. While his role in the NBA was limited, he made a strong impression with the South Bay Lakers in the G League.
In 11 G League appearances, Bronny averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game, shooting 44% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc in 34.1 minutes per contest.
