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. As a highly-rated high school player, he was named a McDonald's All-American in 2023. He played college basketball for one season at USC before being 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

2013: Parents' Marriage

In 2013, Bronny James's parents, LeBron James and Savannah Brinson, got married, formalizing their long-term relationship.

2015: College Scholarship Offers

By 2015, Bronny James was already receiving scholarship offers and letters of interest from college basketball programs, drawing attention to his potential at a young age.

2016: Offers from Duke and Kentucky

In 2016, ESPN reported that Bronny James held offers from prestigious basketball programs such as Duke and Kentucky, highlighting his early recruitment status.

2017: Juice WRLD's Debut EP

In July 2024, Bronny James chose the number 9 jersey to honor the late musician Juice Wrld, alluding to Juice's 2017 debut EP 9 9 9.

July 2018: Youth Game Cancellation

In July 2018, a youth basketball game featuring Bronny James was canceled after a fan heckled his father, LeBron James, and was denied entrance to the game.

August 6, 2018: Enrollment at Crossroads School

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

December 3, 2018: First Game for Crossroads School

On December 3, 2018, Bronny James played his first game for Crossroads School, scoring 27 points in a victory over Culver City Middle School.

April 2019: Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) debut

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

May 2019: Instagram Account Creation

In May 2019, Bronny James started an Instagram account and reached one million followers in his first day on the platform.

May 29, 2019: Transfer to Sierra Canyon School

On May 29, 2019, Bronny James transferred to Sierra Canyon School for his freshman year of high school, joining his brother and Zaire Wade.

November 21, 2019: High School Debut

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

January 15, 2020: Season-High Scoring Game

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

November 12, 2020: First Preseason Game for California Basketball Club (CBC)

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

2020: Signing with FaZe Clan

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

February 2021: Meniscus Tear and Surgery

In February 2021, Bronny James tore his meniscus during practice and underwent surgery, sidelining him for a significant portion of the season.

June 2021: Sports Illustrated Cover Appearance

In June 2021, Bronny James made his first appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated alongside members of FaZe Clan, including NFL quarterback Kyler Murray.

December 4, 2021: Game-High 19 Points at Chosen-1's Invitational

On December 4, 2021, Bronny James scored a game-high 19 points in a win over St. Vincent–St. Mary High School at the Chosen-1's Invitational.

February 2022: Trademark Filing

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

June 2022: Drop in Recruiting Rankings

In June 2022, Bronny James's recruiting ranking dropped to 60th by Rivals, highlighting fluctuations in his evaluation as a college prospect.

August 2022: Exhibition Games in Europe

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

January 2023: Knee Injury and Return

In January 2023, Bronny James missed four games due to a knee injury before returning on February 1, where he scored 19 points in a loss to Notre Dame High School.

January 17, 2023: Reported College Options

On January 17, 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported that Bronny James was considering attending college at Ohio State, Oregon, or USC, indicating the final contenders for his commitment.

March 2023: Projected Top-Ten Pick in 2024 NBA Draft

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

July 24, 2023: Cardiac Arrest During USC Practice

On July 24, 2023, Bronny James suffered cardiac arrest during a USC practice session, which was later attributed to a congenital heart defect.

2023: McDonald's All-American Nomination

In 2023, Bronny James was named a McDonald's All-American as a senior in high school, recognizing his achievements and potential in basketball.

2023: Development as a Perimeter Defender

In 2023, ESPN's Givony noted Bronny James's development into one of the top perimeter defenders in his high school class. Jonathan Wasserman also described James as possessing a high basketball IQ and being a willing passer.

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

In 2023, after Bronny James was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, recruiting analyst Dinos Trigonis raised concerns about nepotism.

January 17, 2024: Season-High Minutes and Performance Against Arizona

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

April 5, 2024: Announcement to Enter the 2024 NBA Draft

On April 5, 2024, Bronny James announced his intention to enter the 2024 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility and entering the transfer portal.

May 2024: Medically Cleared for NBA Draft

In early May 2024, Bronny James was medically cleared to be eligible for the NBA draft, removing a potential barrier to his professional career.

May 28, 2024: Workout Invites from NBA Teams

On May 28, 2024, it was reported that Bronny James had received at least 10 workout invites from NBA teams but visited only the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

June 27, 2024: Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers

On June 27, 2024, Bronny 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 and making them the first father-son duo in the NBA.

July 2024: Jersey Number Selection for NBA Debut

In July 2024, Bronny James chose the number 9 jersey for his professional debut in the NBA during the 2024–25 Los Angeles Lakers season to honor the late musician Juice Wrld, alluding to Juice's 2017 debut EP 9 9 9.

October 22, 2024: NBA Debut with Father

On October 22, 2024, Bronny James and his father, LeBron James, became the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA during the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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

On December 12, 2024, Bronny James scored a game-high 30 points for the South Bay Lakers in their loss to the Valley Suns in the NBA G League.

2024: NBA Draft Selection by the Los Angeles Lakers

In 2024, Bronny James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA draft, marking a significant milestone in his professional basketball career.

2024: NBA Draft and Nepotism Claims

In 2024, following Bronny James's selection by the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA draft, there were widespread concerns about his readiness for the league and claims of nepotism. ESPN analyst Bob Myers stated that James's agent, Rich Paul, discouraged other teams from selecting him.

2024: Projected NBA Draft Year

In March 2023, experts were projecting Bronny James to be a top-ten pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

March 24, 2025: Career-High 39 Points in G League

On March 24, 2025, Bronny James scored a career and game-high 39 points for South Bay, along with seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals, in a win over the Santa Cruz Warriors in NBA G League.