LeBron James’ eight-year tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers has come to an end, but not due to retirement. The 41-year-old star has moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers to team up with Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid, leaving behind Luka Doncic, and more notably, his son Bronny James.
The Lakers drafted Bronny with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, a move many believed was a favor to his father while he was still on the team. And some assumed that if LeBron was going to play for a new team this summer, his son would follow via trade. That could still happen, but more indications are pointing to the Lakers wanting to keep the young, defensive-minded guard. That led to a joke from LeBron on Boardroom Talks with Rich Kleiman:
"I have an almost 22-year-old son who is now my former teammate, which is hilarious.”
— LeBron James. 🤣💀
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 11, 2026
Because Bronny is entering his third NBA season, it seems like the collective fandom has gotten used to both father and son being in the league at the same time. It’s a good reminder of how incredible and unprecedented it is to see what we are currently seeing.
LeBron, a 41-year-old entering his 24th season, has now not only shared both regular season and playoff minutes with his son — who is 21 years old — but he is playing long enough for his son to now be his former teammate. The two — barring injury or a trade to the 76ers — will face off as opponents during the 2026-27 season.
This is something that we are very unlikely to see again in NBA history, given that no one has ever played in a 24th season until now, and players rarely have sons who are both good enough to get into the league at all, and old enough to do it while their father is still a viable player.
Lakers will play 76ers on Christmas
The first time the James’ father-son duo will play against one another in the NBA will be on Christmas Day 2026. The NBA announced the schedule for the league’s biggest regular season day, and Bronny and the Lakers take on LeBron and the 76ers in the primetime slot at 2:00 p.m. PT on ESPN and ABC. That will allow the James family to spend Christmas night together in L.A. after Bronny and LeBron square off in the afternoon.
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