Before being informed by LeBron James that he will not be returning to the franchise next season, the Los Angeles Lakers made a decision on the future of his son, Bronny James.
The younger James is on a 4-year, $7.8 million rookie contract with the Lakers, signed after he was drafted in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Lakers Make Bronny James Decision Amid LeBron James Uncertainty
Ahead of his third year in the NBA, the Lakers have moved to make James’ contract fully guaranteed for the 2026/27 season. The franchise had the option to waive him before the deadline, but chose to secure his base salary of $2.3 million.
The 21-year-old continued his development during his sophomore year with the Lakers, showing significant improvement on the court.
NBA analyst Keith Smith reported on the Lakers’ decision to guarantee James’ contract for next season.
“Bronny James’ contract with the Los Angeles Lakers became fully guaranteed for $2.3M yesterday,” he wrote on X.
James was given a bigger role on the team and averaged 2.9 points, 1.2 assists, and 0.5 rebounds per game while shooting 40.9% from the field and 38.6% from the three-point line during the regular season.
His encouraging performances also helped him earn some playoff minutes for the Lakers, and he scored some important points in the first-round series against the Houston Rockets.
James will offer vital depth to the Lakers at the guard spot, providing reliable minutes when Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves need to rest.
Despite the Lakers’ decision to guarantee James’ contract, his father will be playing on another team next season. James had long wanted to play with one of his sons in the NBA and got to fulfill that dream with Bronny.
The 41-year-old is an unrestricted free agent and has decided to leave the Lakers and play for another team. James showed last year that he is still capable of playing at an elite level and will look to add a fifth NBA championship to his glittering trophy cabinet in what would be his 24th year in the league.
The Golden State Warriors are said to be interested in signing James and pairing him with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and possibly Anthony Davis. However, it remains to be seen whether they have the capital to make such a deal happen. The Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers are also said to be in the hunt to sign James.
