The Los Angeles Lakers were hoping to improve their roster this summer, but they have already taken losses that threaten to downgrade their standing in the West. Most notable is the departure of LeBron James, who recently announced he would not be re-signing with the Purple and Gold this summer.
The implications of the decision are massive, and many fans have been wondering what it means for Bronny James, who became the first player ever to share the court with his father as teammates. Unlike his dad, however, Bronny is still under contract, meaning that the iconic family duo is likely over.
LeBron really left his own son’s team, this is crazy 😭 pic.twitter.com/NKbyy5Owcw
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 30, 2026
Around the NBA, fans expressed surprise and confusion at this new reality. While Bronny has shown flashes, he hasn’t yet proven to be a consistent, reliable role player with career averages of 2.7 points, 0.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game on 40.9% shooting and 38.6% shooting from three. Still, there might be teams out there willing to trade for Bronny if it means improving their own odds at landing the 41-year-old superstar.
That means there might still be a scenario where Bronny and LeBron are teammates next season, especially if James demands it in his free-agent negotiations.
“LeBron will put a stipulation to the new team he’s signing with that they have to trade for Bronny,” theorized one fan.
The situation must feel awkward for Bronny, whose future in Los Angeles isn’t entirely clear. Of course, you can imagine what it must be like for Savannah, Bryce, and Zhuri James, who will now have two different teams to root for. At the very least, it will make things interesting if/when James and his son play against each other next season.
“I’m asking seriously what games do you go to this year if you’re in LeBron’s family,” wrote another fan on X. “Like how do you prioritize LeBron vs Bronny Also incredible dad move by LeBron here.”
At this point, the Lakers have total control over Bronny’s future, and they’ll have to decide what to do with his contract. While a trade or buyout is possible, the Lakers could opt to keep Bronny based on the progress he’s shown so far.
“Bronny is the most overhated player in the league, I swear. He’s obviously not a superstar, but he’s still developing and could 100% be a decent bench role player in the league,” one fan wrote.
Arguably, the best part of LeBron’s decision was the timing. It was no accident that he waited until after Bronny’s contract got fully guaranteed before informing the Lakers he was leaving. It’s a smart and thoughtful move, and it explains why James waited so long to announce his intentions.
“Ultimate dad move,” one fan wrote. “Bronny locked in, now LeBron’s on to the next chapter.”
If LeBron does stay on the Lakers, some fans worry that he might not be able to progress as quickly without the guidance or protection from his dad. It was LeBron who got his son into the league, after all, but plenty of people believe that Bronny doesn’t need him to succeed.
“Bronny is a grown a** man just like his father when Bron came into the NBA,” one fan wrote. “It wasn’t just him and the team’s teammates. Bron is a team player, so that means Bronny really gotta get with the program just like his father has done.”
In the end, only time will tell how the pieces fall into place, but it’s time for Bronny to find his own way now. After working so hard to earn his place, he must now work to prove he belongs outside of his dad’s shadow. Even if he does reunite with his old man, No. 23 only has a few years left, and Bronny cannot lean on him forever.
