NBA icon LeBron James finally answered the league’s biggest question this summer by choosing the Philadelphia 76ers as his next destination.
The natural nextquestion is whether current Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James will look to head East and team up with his father once again. Bronny’s current contract status and a recent report suggest that may not be the case.
NBA Insider Reveals Current Plan For Bronny James Following LeBron James’ Philly Announcement
NBA insider Ramona Shelburne revealed that Bronny is unlikely to follow his father to Philly.
“As for the impact of LeBron James’ decision on his son Bronny James, Rich Paul, the agent for both tells ESPN that they are not a package deal and there’s no current plan or request for Bronny James to join his father in Philly,” Shelburne said.
Rich Paul says LeBron James and Bronny James “are not a package deal,” and there’s no plan for Bronny to join his father in Philadelphia, per @ramonashelburne.
Bronny James recently received a guaranteed contract from the Lakers, whose staff has a fondness for him. pic.twitter.com/PPvitM2ZtO
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 24, 2026
It appears everyone involved is ready for Bronny to start the first chapter of his professional career without his father around as he looks to silence his critics. He now has the opportunity to show that he can truly stay in the NBA based on his own merit, something his doubters have constantly disputed since he was drafted by the Lakers.
Shelburne added in her update that the Lakers’ coaching staff is fond of Bronny. The organization recently guaranteed his $2,296,271 contract for the upcoming season, the third of his four-year, $7,895,796 deal after being selected near the end of the 2024 Draft.
Then, he will have a $2,486,995 team option for the 2027-28 season. The Lakers’ moves during free agency this summer could be interpreted as a sign that Bronny will have to show clear improvement in order to crack the rotation and have his option exercised.
While he made marginal improvements in his second year, the Lakers don’t seem convinced that Bronny is ready to play meaningful minutes given the major competition they added to their rotation minutes behind franchise cornerstones Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler.
The Lakers signed veterans Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton this summer, while drafting Cameron Carr. The organization also acquired Jaden Hardy from the Washington Wizards, who has also flashed more NBA ability than Bronny.
With the 76ers are entering a championship-or-bust season, so Bronny probably wouldn’t have earned consistent rotation minutes even if he followed his father to Philly. Lakers head coach JJ Redick has often discussed his belief that Bronny’s defense will ultimately keep him in the league, arguing that he can develop into a difference-maker on that end of the floor.
While his father fights to win one more NBA championship, Bronny will look to build on the flashes he showed during the postseason and carve out minutes in the Lakers’ rotation.
