Bronny James' NBA Career May Depend Entirely on LeBron Staying With Lakers

Bronny James has done more than many detractors ever thought he would do in the NBA, even having positive minutes in the playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers this postseason against the Houston Rockets, but not everyone believes in his future as a pro.

Especially depending on what his father, LeBron James, decides to do this summer.

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Per Kalshi, the prediction website, there’s currently a 70% chance that the possible heir to the James basketball throne will return to the Lakers next season as he continues to develop as a bench player.

But that might strongly depend on whether the elder James wants to play again for L.A. or possibly move on. While LeBron, like Bronny, is predicted to return to the Lakers next season, there’s the chance that he hangs up the sneakers forever to begin the next stage of his professional career as a team owner.

With the news that a new Las Vegas expansion team might be on the horizon, and with LeBron adamantly saying he wants to lead a team one day, it might be the perfect time for the future Hall of Famer to call it a career.

That’s where things might take a turn for Bronny. If James retires, the Lakers will have no motivation to keep him on the roster unless they feel he’s a positive contributor compared to other players in their system.

10% of people on Kalshi are betting on that future, where he will not be on any franchise’s roster come the start of next season.

Although that might be the case in the long term, I disagree with the notion that young James will be without an organization to call home in the NBA, even if his father retires.

There are dozens of worse players than Bronny James taking up spots in the NBA, and although he might never become anything more than a depth piece with extreme athleticism along with a good motor, some team will take a flier on him.

For one of the bottom teams in the NBA, not only would Bronny James not feel out of place getting minutes on the floor, but there’s a strong likelihood he’d be their best merchandise and ticket seller.

Will Bronny James be in the NBA a half-decade from now? Maybe not, but for at least the immediate future, with or without his father, I believe Bronny will have chances to reach his full physical ceiling before he’s forced to play in Europe or China.

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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 6:56 PM.