History of Bronny James in Timeline

Bronny James Jr. is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. A four-star recruit, he was a McDonald's All-American in high school and played one season for the USC Trojans. He was drafted by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft. Notably, he is the son of LeBron James Sr., and they are the first active father-son duo to play together in the NBA.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

October 6, 2004: Bronny James' Birth

On October 6, 2004, LeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr. was born. His father is professional basketball player LeBron James Sr.

Others born on this day/year

2013: Parents' Marriage

In 2013, Bronny James's parents, LeBron James and Savannah Brinson, got married.

2015: College Scholarship Offers

By 2015, James was receiving scholarship offers from college basketball programs, leading his father to comment on the inappropriateness of recruiting 10-year-old kids.

2016: Offers from Duke and Kentucky

In 2016, ESPN reported that James held scholarship offers from Duke and Kentucky, showcasing his early potential as a basketball prospect.

2017: Juice Wrld Debut EP

In 2017, Juice Wrld debuted his EP 9 9 9, which would later inspire James' jersey number choice.

July 2018: Youth Game Cancellation

In July 2018, a youth game featuring James was canceled after a fan wearing a Michael Jordan jersey heckled his father and was denied entrance.

August 6, 2018: Enrollment at Crossroads School

On August 6, 2018, Bronny James enrolled at Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California.

December 3, 2018: First Game for Crossroads School

On December 3, 2018, in his first game for Crossroads School, James scored 27 points in a 61–48 victory over Culver City Middle School.

April 2019: Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Debut

In April 2019, James made his Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) debut with Strive for Greatness.

May 2019: Instagram Account Launch

In May 2019, James created an Instagram account and quickly gained one million followers on his first day.

May 29, 2019: Transfer to Sierra Canyon School

On May 29, 2019, James transferred to Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, for his freshman year of high school.

November 21, 2019: High School Debut

On November 21, 2019, James made his high school debut, scoring 10 points in a win over Montgomery High School.

January 15, 2020: Season-High Score

On January 15, 2020, James scored a season-high 17 points in a win over Viewpoint School.

November 12, 2020: First Preseason Game

On November 12, 2020, James played his first preseason game for California Basketball Club (CBC), scoring nine points.

2020: Signs with FaZe Clan

In 2020, James signed with esports organization FaZe Clan to stream Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone under the handle "FaZe Bronny."

February 2021: Meniscus Tear

In February 2021, James tore his meniscus at practice and underwent surgery, causing him to miss most of the season.

June 2021: Sports Illustrated Cover Appearance

In June 2021, James appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with members of FaZe Clan, including NFL quarterback Kyler Murray.

December 4, 2021: Game-High 19 Points

On December 4, 2021, James scored a game-high 19 points in a win over St. Vincent–St. Mary High School.

February 2022: Filing for Trademarks

In February 2022, James filed for trademarks on variations of his name: Bronny, BJ Jr., and Bronald.

June 2022: Drop in Recruiting Rankings

In June 2022, James's recruiting rankings dropped, with Rivals ranking him 60th overall.

August 2022: Exhibition Games in Europe

In August 2022, James played alongside his Sierra Canyon teammates for CBC in three exhibition games in Europe.

January 2023: Knee Injury

In January 2023, James missed four games with a knee injury during his senior season.

January 17, 2023: College Decision Options

On January 17, 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported that James would decide between attending college at Ohio State, Oregon, or USC.

March 2023: Projected NBA Draft Pick

In March 2023, James was projected as a top-ten pick in the 2024 NBA draft and was seen as the most improved prospect in the country.

July 24, 2023: Cardiac Arrest During Practice

On July 24, 2023, James suffered cardiac arrest during a USC practice session, later revealed to be caused by a congenital heart defect.

2023: McDonald's All-American

In 2023, James was named a McDonald's All-American as a senior in high school, marking a significant achievement in his high school career.

2023: McDonald's All-American Game Selection and Nepotism Allegations

In 2023, after James was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, concerns were raised about nepotism due to his father's influence.

2023: Development as a Top Perimeter Defender

In 2023, reports indicated that James was developing into one of the top perimeter defenders in his high school class, showcasing his defensive anticipation and intensity.

January 17, 2024: Season-High Minutes

On January 17, 2024, James played a season-high 30 minutes, recording 11 points, five rebounds, and six assists in a loss to No. 12 Arizona.

April 5, 2024: NBA Draft Entry

On April 5, 2024, James announced his entry into the 2024 NBA draft while maintaining college eligibility and also entering the transfer portal.

May 28, 2024: NBA Workout Invites

On May 28, 2024, it was reported that James had at least 10 workout invites from NBA teams but only visited a "couple" of those teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

June 27, 2024: Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers

On June 27, 2024, James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, pairing him with his father, LeBron James.

July 2024: Jersey Number Choice for NBA Debut

In July 2024, James selected the number 9 jersey for his NBA debut during the 2024–25 Los Angeles Lakers season to honor Juice Wrld's 2017 debut EP 9 9 9.

October 22, 2024: NBA Debut

On October 22, 2024, in the season opener, James and his father became the first father–son duo to play together in the NBA. Bronny debuted with a rebound in three minutes of play in the Lakers' win over the Timberwolves.

December 12, 2024: Game-High 30 Points in G League

On December 12, 2024, James scored a game-high 30 points on 13-of-23 shooting in South Bay's loss to the Valley Suns.

2024: NBA Draft Selection

In 2024, James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA draft after playing one season of college basketball for the USC Trojans.

2024: NBA Draft Selection and Nepotism Claims

In the 2024 NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected James, leading to allegations of nepotism given concerns about his college performance and NBA readiness. His agent allegedly discouraged other teams from drafting him.