Bronny James spent his first two NBA seasons sharing a Lakers locker room and an unprecedented amount of attention with his father. Matt Barnes thinks the next phase of his career could actually become easier now that LeBron James is gone.
The former NBA forward told TMZ Sports that LeBron’s move from Los Angeles to Philadelphia could be one of the best developments for Bronny’s career. Barnes believes the separation gives the 21-year-old Lakers guard a chance to establish himself without his father’s presence dominating every conversation about how he reached the league.
LeBron ended his eight-season Lakers run this summer and officially joined the Philadelphia 76ers in July as he prepares for a record 24th NBA season. Bronny remains in Los Angeles and is entering his third season with the Lakers.
Barnes acknowledged the debate over whether LeBron’s presence helped create Bronny’s NBA opportunity. His larger point, however, was about what happens now.
Barnes Says Bronny Can Now Show He Can Do It Without LeBron
TMZ Sports caught up with Barnes at Ryan Garcia’s open workout in Los Angeles, where the 14-year NBA veteran was asked about Bronny’s development. Barnes said the younger James has talent but suggested another year before entering the league might have given him more time to establish his own résumé.
Bronny instead entered the 2024 NBA Draft after one season at USC, and the Lakers selected him with the 55th overall pick. Barnes said the circumstances surrounding that selection will probably continue to fuel arguments about how much LeBron influenced the opportunity, but he sees the current separation as a chance to move past them.
With LeBron now playing across the country, Barnes believes Bronny can approach year three as his own test rather than another chapter of the father-son storyline. He said the situation gives Bronny an opportunity to show, “I can do this without my dad.”
The Father-Son Story Has Followed Bronny Since Draft Night
Bronny’s arrival in Los Angeles immediately became intertwined with LeBron’s career. When the Lakers drafted him in June 2024, no father and son had ever played in the NBA at the same time, much less on the same team.
That changed on Oct. 22, 2024. LeBron and Bronny checked into the Lakers’ season opener together and became the first father and son to appear in an NBA game together. They later extended that history in April 2026 when they became the first father-son duo to appear in the same NBA playoff game.
Bronny had already acknowledged the pressure surrounding his name before making either piece of history. When the Lakers introduced him in 2024, he said he was trying to establish his own identity and recognized that questions about whether he deserved the opportunity had become more intense because his father was already on the roster.
LeBron’s Move to Philadelphia Ended Their Lakers Run
LeBron informed the Lakers on June 30 that he would not return for the 2026-27 season, ending an eight-year run in Los Angeles that included the 2020 NBA championship and two seasons as Bronny’s teammate.
Philadelphia became his next destination in July. James announced his decision on July 24, and the move to the 76ers became official on July 27. He said the decision came after seriously considering retirement and described Philadelphia as his “last decision” as he prepares for his 24th season.
Bronny, meanwhile, remains under contract with the Lakers for 2026-27. His third-year salary became guaranteed this summer, while Los Angeles holds a team option for the following season.
Bronny Has Already Tried to Separate His Career From His Father’s
Barnes’ argument fits with something Bronny has been saying almost from the beginning. During Lakers Summer League preparation in July 2025, he said he largely ignored speculation surrounding LeBron’s future and tried not to let his father’s career decisions dictate his own preparation.
His NBA role remains developmental. Bronny has appeared in 69 regular-season games over his first two seasons, averaging 2.7 points in 8.1 minutes per game while also spending time with the South Bay Lakers in the G League. His second NBA season showed some statistical progress, with his scoring average rising from 2.3 to 2.9 points and his field-goal percentage improving from 31.3% to 40.9%.