Bronny James Steps Out of LeBron’s Shadow as Lakers Prepare for Life Without His Father
Bronny James steps out of LeBron’s shadow as the young Los Angeles Lakers guard prepares for his first NBA season without his father as a teammate. After two seasons alongside LeBron James in Los Angeles, Bronny is now focused on developing his own identity and establishing himself as an NBA player.
The separation will not last all season, however. LeBron James is scheduled to return to Los Angeles on Christmas Day, December 25, 2026, when his Philadelphia 76ers visit the Lakers. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally on ESPN and ABC.
Bronny James Enters a New Chapter With the Lakers
Bronny’s NBA journey has been closely connected to his father’s unprecedented career.
The Lakers selected him with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he subsequently became part of NBA history when he shared the court with LeBron.
The two became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game, creating a unique storyline around Bronny’s entry into professional basketball.
Now, that dynamic has changed.
LeBron left Los Angeles during the 2026 offseason and signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. That move ended the father-son pairing in the Lakers’ locker room and created an opportunity for Bronny to develop without having his father beside him every day.
Bronny Wants to Establish His Own Identity
At Lakers media day, Bronny acknowledged that playing without his father will be a different experience.
He said he is looking forward to seeing how teammates and staff interact with him when LeBron is no longer around the organization. The comments reflect a broader focus on becoming recognized as Bronny rather than constantly being viewed through the lens of his father’s career.
Reuters reported that Bronny has described himself as having his own path while LeBron has his own. He also emphasized his desire to continue growing as an individual player.
That distinction is particularly significant given the enormous attention surrounding the James family since Bronny entered the NBA.
A Different Role for Bronny in 2026-27
Bronny enters the new season with expectations centered primarily on development.
Reuters reported that he is expected to work as a backup guard behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. He is also playing under a guaranteed contract worth approximately $2.3 million for the season.
During his first two NBA seasons, Bronny split time between the Lakers and their G League affiliate.
According to figures reported around Lakers media day, he had appeared in 69 NBA games through his first two seasons, averaging 2.7 points, 1.1 assists and 8.1 minutes per game. His G League production was considerably higher, with averages of 18.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists over 25 games.
The new season could therefore provide a clearer test of how his game develops with the focus no longer centered on playing alongside his father.
LeBron James Begins His Philadelphia Chapter
While Bronny starts a new chapter in Los Angeles, LeBron is doing the same in Philadelphia.
The four-time NBA champion joined the 76ers during the offseason after spending eight seasons with the Lakers. His move gives Philadelphia a veteran star alongside a roster that includes players such as Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
For LeBron, the move also creates an immediate return to Los Angeles.
That return will come on Christmas Day, when Philadelphia travels to Crypto.com Arena for one of the NBA’s nationally televised holiday games.
Father and Son Will Meet on Christmas Day
The Christmas matchup is scheduled for December 25, 2026, with the 76ers visiting the Lakers at 5 p.m. ET.
For Bronny, the game represents something very different from the father-son moments that defined his early NBA experience.
Instead of sharing the same uniform with LeBron, he could face his father as an opposing player.
Bronny has already said he is excited to see LeBron on Christmas.
The matchup will also mark LeBron’s first game back in Los Angeles against his former team since joining Philadelphia. The NBA has identified the contest as one of its major 2026-27 return games.
Lakers Adjust to a New Era
The Lakers themselves are entering a period of transition.
The team has added nine new players for the 2026-27 season, according to Reuters, meaning the organization is simultaneously adjusting to a significantly different roster and to life without LeBron.
Luka Dončić remains a central part of the team’s plans, while Bronny will have an opportunity to continue developing within a younger and reshaped Lakers group.
Dončić has spoken positively about his experience playing alongside LeBron, but the Lakers must now establish their identity without the veteran superstar.
For Bronny, that environment could also mean greater separation between his own career and his father’s legacy.
From Historic Teammates to NBA Opponents
The James family’s NBA story has already produced moments that had never happened before.
In 2024, LeBron and Bronny became the first father-son combination to appear together in an NBA game. In March 2026, LeBron also recorded the NBA’s first father-son assist when he passed to Bronny for a 3-pointer against Brooklyn.
The next chapter will look very different.
Instead of sharing the floor as teammates, Bronny and LeBron are scheduled to face each other on opposite sides of an NBA game.
That Christmas Day meeting could become another notable moment in their basketball story while giving Bronny another opportunity to establish himself independently.
What the 2026-27 Season Means for Bronny James
Bronny’s immediate focus is expected to remain on development rather than comparisons with his father.
His role with the Lakers will provide opportunities to gain NBA experience, improve his decision-making and shooting, and continue adjusting to the pace and physical demands of the league.
The most important change may be the environment around him.
Without LeBron occupying the same locker room, every performance will increasingly be evaluated as part of Bronny’s own career.
That does not remove the connection between the two players. Instead, it creates a new version of it: father and son competing in the same league, but now representing different teams.
Key Highlights
- Bronny James is entering his first NBA season without LeBron James as a Lakers teammate.
- LeBron signed with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2026 offseason.
- Bronny has emphasized developing his own identity as an NBA player.
- He is expected to serve primarily as a backup guard for the Lakers.
- LeBron and Bronny previously made NBA history as the first father-son duo to play together.
- The two are scheduled to face each other on December 25, 2026.
- Philadelphia will visit the Lakers in the 5 p.m. ET Christmas Day game.
- The matchup will mark LeBron’s return to Los Angeles as a member of the 76ers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happened between Bronny James and LeBron James?
LeBron James left the Lakers during the 2026 offseason to join the Philadelphia 76ers, ending his time as Bronny’s NBA teammate.
2. Are Bronny James and LeBron James still in the NBA?
Yes. Bronny remains with the Los Angeles Lakers, while LeBron is now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
3. When will Bronny James play against LeBron James?
The Lakers and 76ers are scheduled to meet on December 25, 2026, as part of the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule.
4. Where will the Lakers vs 76ers Christmas game be played?
Philadelphia will visit the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
5. What time is the Lakers vs 76ers Christmas game?
The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET on December 25, 2026, with national coverage on ESPN and ABC.
6. Did Bronny and LeBron make NBA history together?
Yes. They became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game after Bronny entered the league.
7. What is Bronny James’ role with the Lakers?
Bronny is expected to continue developing as a guard and work primarily as a backup behind key Lakers guards, including Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
8. When was Bronny James drafted?
The Lakers selected Bronny with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
9. What did Bronny say about playing without LeBron?
Bronny said he was looking forward to experiencing the season without his father around the Lakers and seeing how teammates and staff interact with him independently.
10. Why is the Christmas Day matchup significant?
It will be the first scheduled NBA meeting between Bronny and LeBron as opponents after they previously made history by playing together as Lakers teammates.
