Report: Bronny James doesn't need to play with LeBron in NBA, weighing staying at USC

Bronny James could very well be back in 2024-25 at USC to play another year for the Trojans rather than test the NBA Draft waters and possibly with his father LeBron James.

LeBron James said on numerous occasions he would love to play on the same team as his son one day before he hangs it up. Heck, he doesn’t have much left to accomplish since he just scored 40,000 career points.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski provided the latest on Bronny, LeBron and agent Rich Paul weighing the decision for the USC guard.

“Rich Paul … he will also be Bronny James’ representative,” Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown. “And a couple of things they’re really going to look at when they make a decision about leaving school or returning for a sophomore year USC, No. 1: Rich Paul, LeBron James and Bronny James are generally far less interested in how high he will be picked, but if it’s the right team interested in him and the right developmental situation for him.”

The thing is, Bronny James doesn’t have to play with his dad in the NBA. LeBron James mentioned how he’d want it to happen organically, but not to force it.

“But here’s one thing that won’t be a consideration I was told by Rich Paul, the idea that he needs to play with Lebron James, be on the same roster, play with him on the Lakers, Rich Paul said to me, if it organically happened, LeBron would be head over heels excited to play with Bronny,” Wojnarowski said. “But in Rich Paul’s words, LeBron wants Bronny to be his own man. And so it’ll certainly be something as we get further into the spring, and he’s got a decision to make. They’ll have time to get a real sense of where they stand in the NBA for this 2024 draft.”

With just a few games remaining, though, a player in Bronny James some had projected as a potential first round draft pick has slid out of mock drafts.

“Can yall please just let the kid be a kid and enjoy college basketball,” LeBron said in an initial post. “The work and results will ultimately do the talking no matter what he decides to do. If y’all don’t know he doesn’t care what a mock draft says, he just WORKS! Earned Not Given!”

A four-star prospect an the No. 25 player in the 2023 signing class according to the On3 Industry Rankings, James Jr. was a McDonald’s All-American. He arrived at USC alongside top prospect Isaiah Collier and the duo portended a high-flying season for the Trojans.

That has not been the case, despite Collier being as-advertised. But while Collier is likely to move on to the NBA after this season, things aren’t as clear for Bronny James who apparently hasn’t made a decision based on what his father said.

In a second post, LeBron. continued his advice, applicable to his son and plenty of others.

“And to all the other kids out there striving to be great just keep your head down, blinders on and keep grinding,” James Sr. said. “These Mock Drafts doesn’t matter one bit! I promise you! Only the WORK MATTERS!! Let’s talk REAL BASKETBALL PEOPLE!”