CLEVELAND, Ohio – The beaming father spoke for 90 seconds about his oldest child, who earlier that day had chosen to attend the local university.
Junior chose a good school, dad said. He would be the first family member, in dad’s memory, to attend college. And that accomplishment marked a “very, exciting, very humbling and great moment” for the family, according to its patriarch.
Never mind that dad, aka LeBron James, had tallied 30 points, nine assists and nine rebounds during a playoff win over the Golden State Warriors that night. Or that much of the interest in his son, Bronny (named LeBron Jr. at birth), was driven by James’ Hall of Fame genes and his outspoken interest in becoming the NBA’s first father-son duo.
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When reporters asked LeBron about Bronny’s commitment to play basketball at USC earlier that day, a father recognized that this moment belonged to his son. And in a quote to ESPN later that evening, James sounded satisfied to cede his spotlight, even if that meant his dream of playing together never came true.
“I’ve done what I’ve had to do in this league, and my son is going to take his journey,” James said. “And whatever (Bronny’s) journey, however his journey lays out, he’s going to do what’s best for him. And as his dad, and his mom, and his brother and sister, we’re going to support him in whatever he decides to do. So, just because (playing with him) is my aspiration or my goal, doesn’t mean it’s his. And I’m absolutely OK with that.”
James’ tone sounded different over the previous year-plus, during which he repeatedly signaled that he planned to play alongside his oldest son under any circumstance. He initially told the Athletic in February 2022 that “My last year will be played with my son,” and that “I will do whatever it takes” to make that happen.
“It’s not about money at that point,” James said.
James reiterated those wishes in an October 2022 cover story (initially published online in late August) with Sports Illustrated entitled “LeBron James wants to play with his sons, Bronny and Bryce. Got a problem with that?” during which Bronny revealed that LeBron never discussed his father-son goal with Bronny before speaking it into existence.
LeBron told SI that he was speaking to the “basketball gods” with his public comments. He always had, and they’d always listened. “Hopefully they can listen to this last one, too,” LeBron said.
Bronny told SI the idea is “pretty cool” and that he harbors NBA dreams of his own accord. Dad didn’t force his hand. And he doesn’t feel pressured follow LeBron’s path -- “If the NBA doesn’t pan out, “I’m cool,” Bronny said.
Meanwhile, LeBron kept wish casting to gods and talking into microphones. In January – four months before he declared it “absolutely OK” to not play with Bronny – the Lakers star told ESPN that “I need to be on the floor with my boy.” This time, LeBron imagined playing with or against Bronny. “… But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure.”
The more James talked, the more scrutiny his son encountered. As early as July 2021, the summer before Bronny’s junior season, media outlets conducted an anonymous survey asking college coaches if Bronny’s talent matched his Instagram following (7.3 million).
They asked if he was good enough to make the NBA or if he was worth recruiting despite the spotlight that would accompany his commitment. USA Today asked scouts if Bronny, the 22nd-ranked prospect in his class according to 247Sports, deserved to make the McDonald’s All-American game this season. The story read 1,400 words long, arguably the longest-ever debate over one roster spot in a high school all-star game.
Why? Because the James name sells and will keep selling. On3 sports says Bronny already owns the highest NIL valuation -- $6.8 million, twice as high as second place -- of any collegiate athlete before stepping on campus. ESPN projects him to be a top-10 draft pick next season, even though he hasn’t played a collegiate game. And it’s hard to separate those expectations from the ones his father publicly laid upon him.
Last month, dad dialed back those dreams for the first time in a public setting. Perhaps he recognized the unceasing media coverage from his own high school career and realized it would only multiply if father and son shared a locker room (the worst way to ingratiate a hyped rookie among his teammates).
Maybe the son, like many before him, told his father that he wouldn’t want to spend all of their time together, particularly not his first year as a professional athlete. Would any 19-year-old want their parent at every party, practice or on every plane ride?
Don’t ask yours -- you know the answer. And in this case, maybe James did too. He saw his son breaking new ground at a good school, becoming his own man, and in the process, he recognized a lesson worth repeating as Father’s Day approaches.
A good dad carves a path for his children’s future. The best dad lets them walk their own -- even if he had other plans.
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