History of Bronny James in Timeline

Bronny James Jr. is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and on assignment with the South Bay Lakers. He was a highly-rated high school player, earning McDonald's All-American honors. He played college basketball 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 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.

Others born on this day/year

2013: Parents' Marriage

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

2015: College Interest

By 2015, Bronny James was receiving scholarship offers and letters of interest from college basketball programs.

2016: College Offers

In 2016, it was reported that Bronny James held offers from Duke and Kentucky.

2017: Juice WRLD Debut EP Release

In 2017, Juice WRLD released his debut EP 9 9 9.

July 2018: Canceled Youth Game

In July 2018, a youth game featuring Bronny James was canceled after a fan 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, Bronny James scored 27 points in his first game for Crossroads School.

April 2019: Nike Elite Youth Basketball League 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 quickly gained one million followers on 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 Bryce and Zaire Wade.

November 21, 2019: High School Debut

On November 21, 2019, Bronny James made his high school debut, scoring 10 points.

January 15, 2020: Season-High 17 Points

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

November 12, 2020: First Preseason Game

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

2020: James Signs with FaZe Clan

In 2020, Bronny James signed with esports organization FaZe Clan. He 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 at practice and underwent surgery.

June 2021: Sports Illustrated Cover Appearance

In June 2021, Bronny 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, Bronny James scored a game-high 19 points in a win over St. Vincent–St. Mary High School.

February 2022: Trademark Filings

In February 2022, Bronny James filed for trademarks on variations of his name: Bronny, BJ Jr., and Bronald. He also signed NIL deals with Nike and Beats by Dre during his high school years.

June 2022: Recruiting Ranking Drop

In June 2022, Bronny James' recruiting rankings dropped to number 60 by Rivals.

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, where he led all scorers with 25 points in one game.

January 2023: Knee Injury

In January 2023, Bronny James missed four games with a knee injury before returning on February 1.

January 17, 2023: College Decision Options

On January 17, 2023, it was reported that Bronny James would decide between attending college at Ohio State, Oregon, or USC.

March 2023: Projected Top-Ten NBA Draft Pick

In March 2023, Bronny James was projected as a top-ten pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

July 24, 2023: Cardiac Arrest

On July 24, 2023, Bronny James collapsed during a USC practice session at the Galen Center due to cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect.

2023: McDonald's All-American Selection

In 2023, Bronny James was named a McDonald's All-American as a senior in high school.

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

In 2023, after Bronny James was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, recruiting analyst Dinos Trigonis raised concerns about nepotism, suggesting that LeBron James' influence played a significant role in his son's opportunities.

2023: Analysis of James's Strengths and Weaknesses

In 2023, analysts noted that Bronny James's strengths were shooting and defense, though he lacked size compared to NBA players with similar skills. He excelled in catch-and-shoot situations and could shoot off movement. His defensive capabilities, especially against point guards, were also praised. However, creating separation from defenders and driving/finishing were identified as weaknesses. In 2023, ESPN's Givony said James was developing into one of the top perimeter defenders in his high school class.

January 17, 2024: Season-High Minutes

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

April 5, 2024: NBA Draft Entry

On April 5, 2024, Bronny James announced on Instagram that he would enter the 2024 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility and also enter 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.

May 28, 2024: NBA Workout Invites

On May 28, 2024, it was reported that Bronny James had workout invites from NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, and worked out with only those two teams.

June 27, 2024: Drafted by 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, making him and his father the first father-son duo in the NBA at the same time. He signed a contract with the Lakers on July 3.

July 2024: Jersey Number Choice to Honor Juice WRLD

In July 2024, Bronny James selected the number 9 jersey for his NBA professional debut with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024-25 season. This decision was made to honor the late musician Juice Wrld, referencing his 2017 debut EP 9 9 9.

October 22, 2024: NBA Debut

On October 22, 2024, in the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bronny 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.

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

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

2024: NBA Draft Selection

In 2024, Bronny 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: Nepotism Claims After Lakers Draft

In 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers faced allegations of nepotism after drafting Bronny James, allowing him to play alongside his father despite concerns about his college performance. ESPN analyst Bob Myers stated James's agent discouraged other teams, threatening overseas play if drafted elsewhere. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski commented that these practices are common in the NBA.