Career Timeline of Bronny James: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Bronny James built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

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

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."

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.

February 2022: Trademark Filing

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

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.

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.

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.

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.