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. He was a highly regarded four-star recruit coming out of high school, earning McDonald's All-American honors. After one season of college basketball with the USC Trojans, he was drafted by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft. Notably, he is the son of NBA superstar LeBron James Sr., and they are the first active father-son duo to play together in NBA history.

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's parents, LeBron James and Savannah Brinson, got married, solidifying their family.

2015: College Scholarship Offers

By 2015, Bronny James was receiving scholarship offers from college basketball programs, which his father considered a violation due to his young age.

2016: Offers from Duke and Kentucky

In 2016, it was reported that Bronny James had received scholarship offers from Duke and Kentucky.

2017: Juice WRLD Debut EP

In 2017, Juice WRLD debuted the 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 at Crossroads School

On December 3, 2018, Bronny James scored 27 points in his first game for Crossroads School, leading to a 61–48 victory.

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 Launch

In May 2019, Bronny James started an Instagram account and 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.

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 Score

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

November 12, 2020: Preseason Game with CBC

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

2020: Signs with FaZe Clan

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

February 2021: Meniscus Injury

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

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: Filing for Trademarks

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

June 2022: Ranking Drop

Coming off a season ending injury, Bronny James fell to 52nd and 49th in rankings by 247Sports and ESPN, respectively, and he dropped 31 spots to number 60 in rankings by Rivals in June 2022.

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 a loss to U18 French Select in Paris.

January 2023: Knee Injury and Return

In January 2023, Bronny James missed four games with a knee injury and scored 19 points in his return 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 and was seen as the most improved prospect in the country.

July 24, 2023: Cardiac Arrest

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

2023: Nepotism Allegations

In 2023, Bronny James was described as a nepo baby, with critics suggesting his father's influence played a significant role in his opportunities. After being selected for the 2023 McDonald's All-American Game, recruiting analyst Dinos Trigonis raised concerns about nepotism.

2023: McDonald's All-American

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

2023: Analyst Reports on Strengths and Weaknesses

In 2023, analysts described Bronny James' main strengths as shooting and defense, while noting his lack of size for an NBA player with his skill set. He excels in catch-and-shoot situations and is developing into a top perimeter defender. Weaknesses noted include creating separation from defenders and driving/finishing abilities. Comparisons were drawn to players like De'Anthony Melton and Jrue Holiday. In 2023, ESPN's Givony said James was developing into one of the top perimeter defenders in his class.

January 17, 2024: Season-High Minutes

On January 17, 2024, Bronny James played a season-high 30 minutes, recording 11 points, five rebounds, and six assists in a loss to Arizona.

April 5, 2024: NBA Draft Entry and Transfer Portal

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

May 2024: NBA Draft Eligibility

In early May 2024, Bronny James was medically cleared to be eligible for the NBA draft.

May 28, 2024: Workout Invites from NBA Teams

On May 28, 2024, it was reported that Bronny James had at least 10 workout invites from NBA teams but only visited a "couple" of those teams, which included 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, making him and his father the first father-son duo to be in the NBA at the same time.

July 2024: Jersey Number Choice

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, honoring musician Juice Wrld and alluding to his 2017 debut EP 9 9 9.

October 22, 2024: NBA Debut

On October 22, 2024, Bronny James and his father became the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA. Bronny debuted with a rebound in the Lakers' win over the 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 a loss to the Valley Suns.

2024: NBA Draft and Lakers Selection

In 2024, Bronny James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA draft, marking his entry into professional basketball. This also made him and his father, LeBron James Sr., the first active father-son duo in NBA history.

2024: NBA Draft Selection and Nepotism Claims

In 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers faced nepotism allegations after selecting Bronny James in the NBA draft, enabling him to play with his father. Concerns were raised about his college play and readiness. ESPN analyst Bob Myers noted that James's agent discouraged other teams from drafting him, and ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski addressed the prevalence of nepotism in the NBA.