Bronny James focusing on NBA ‘dream,’ not playing with dad LeBron

It may be LeBron James’ dream to play alongside his son Bronny in the NBA, but a father-son pairing isn’t the utmost goal for the 19-year-old USC Trojans guard.

Instead, Bronny James just wants to be an NBA player, no matter whether it’s with the Los Angeles Lakers or any other team. 

“My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself and get to the NBA,” Bronny James told reporters Tuesday night at the NBA draft combine.

“Everything that follows my dad, people just try to link me with that and all the greatness that he’s achieved. I haven’t done anything yet, so I feel like there needs to be that divide between Bronny and LeBron.”

Instead of comparing him to his father, the younger James said he believes his game is more like that of Boston’s Jrue Holiday or Derrick White, or Sacramento’s Davion Mitchell.

James, a 6-4 guard, has declared for the NBA draft, but still has until May 29 to decide whether he wants to stay in the draft or return to college basketball for his sophomore season. He has already said he will enter the transfer portal after one year at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds over 25 games.

LeBron James has said on several occasions that after a 21-year NBA career that has included four league MVP awards, four NBA titles and 20 All-Star appearances, one of his remaining goals is to play on the same team as his son.

Bronny, however, has more immediate goals − after recently being medically cleared to participate in the combine following a cardiac arrest last July and a procedure to repair a congenital heart defect.

“I’m just trying to put in the work and see where it takes me from there,” he said.