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 highly-rated high school player, he was a McDonald's All-American before playing one season at USC. 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 NBA history. His career and draft selection have been subject to speculation about nepotism.

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, got married.

2015: College Scholarship Offers

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

2016: Offers from Duke and Kentucky

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

2017: Juice Wrld's Debut EP

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

July 2018: Youth Game Cancellation

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 Launch

In May 2019, Bronny James started an Instagram account and quickly gained one million followers within 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 17 Points

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

2020: FaZe Clan Signing

In 2020, Bronny James signed with esports organization FaZe Clan, planning to stream Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone as "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 alongside other 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.

June 2022: Recruiting Rankings Drop

In June 2022, Bronny James dropped 31 spots to number 60 in rankings 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. During his second game he led all scorers with 25 points.

January 2023: Knee Injury

In January 2023, Bronny James missed four games with a knee injury, returning on February 1 and scoring 19 points.

January 17, 2023: College Decision

On January 17, 2023, the Los Angeles Times 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 due to cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect.

2023: McDonald's All-American

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

2023: Nepotism Allegations

In 2023, Bronny James was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, which led to recruiting analyst Dinos Trigonis raising concerns about nepotism. It was suggested that his father's influence played a significant role in his opportunities.

2023: Development as a Top Perimeter Defender

In 2023, ESPN's Givony noted Bronny James's development into one of the top perimeter defenders in his class, with strengths in shooting, defense, basketball IQ, and passing, although he can struggle to create separation from defenders.

January 17, 2024: Season-High Minutes

On January 17, 2024, Bronny James played a season-high 30 minutes and recorded 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 he would enter the 2024 NBA draft while maintaining college eligibility and enter the transfer portal.

May 2024: Medical Clearance for NBA Draft

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, ultimately visiting only the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

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, becoming the first father-son duo in the NBA at the same time.

July 2024: Jersey Number Choice

In July 2024, Bronny James selected the number 9 jersey for his professional debut with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024–25 NBA season, honoring 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, LeBron James Sr, 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 in South Bay's loss to the Valley Suns in the NBA G League.

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.

2024: NBA Draft and Nepotism Claims

In 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers' selection of Bronny James in the NBA draft led to allegations of nepotism, compounded by concerns about his college play and NBA readiness. It was also reported that his agent discouraged other teams from selecting him, potentially influencing his draft position.