What LeBron James Told Son Bryce Before His College Basketball Debut

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Bryce James is learning from the best.

Before embarking on his college basketball debut with the Wildcats at the University of Arizona, the 18-year-old received some encouragement from his father, who is famously known as LeBron James.

On August 12, as reported by videos on social media, Bryce advised reporters: ‘Keep putting in your best effort and sticking to what you excel at.’ He emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude even during difficult times.

Perhaps you missed a chance, or even caused a turnover, but don’t let your spirits drop. Keep your chin up, persist, and maintain a positive attitude throughout.

About a year after the teenager initially hinted at his school allegiance by posting pictures of himself in Arizona attire, these pieces of advice arrived. It didn’t take much time for LeBron, who is also a father to son Bronny, 20, and daughter Zhuri, 10, to proudly verify the news by reposting the same image, thereby confirming it.

In a similar style, the NBA star wrote, “Let’s show some strength!!!” This was a nod to the college’s battle cry at that time. He also celebrated his youngest son, Maximus, by adding, “Congratulations Maximus!!!”.

Participating in the festivities, LeBron James Jr., often referred to as Bronny, showed his enthusiasm with a spirited “Yessir!” instead.

It’s worth noting that just under two years ago, Bronny stepped onto the college court for the University of Southern California for the very first time. Since then, he and LeBron have etched their names in NBA history by becoming the first pair of father and son to play together, as Bronny was drafted to team up with his dad on the Los Angeles Lakers.

At that moment, LeBron expressed pure joy, as seen in videos shared on social media. He said, ‘I’m speechless, but incredibly proud of him reaching this milestone. He’s grown into a mature individual, fully prepared for the journey ahead.’

Despite facing criticism during his rookie year, including discussions about nepotism, Bronny continued to follow the teachings that his father had always emphasized.

In simpler terms, he shared with The Athletic in March that his initial response to everything is usually to dismiss it like it’s just noise, focus on work, and maintain a positive attitude daily. However, there are times when such comments can even slightly stir him up. People often think he’s emotionless or robotic, but the truth is, he does have feelings.

As a devoted wellness enthusiast, I channel that energy into propelling myself forward each day. I rise with the sun, hitting the gym before most are awake, pushing myself harder than the day before. Every day, I immerse myself further in my craft by consuming additional resources – be it through work or films – striving for constant improvement and growth.

It’s not just LeBron whose children are taking after him in sports. There are many other athletes with similarly talented offspring – continue reading to find out more!

It wasn’t unexpected that Michael Jordan’s sons, Jeffrey Jordan and Marcus Jordan, aspired to emulate their father, who is widely regarded as the best basketball player ever. Following in high school, Jeffrey continued his career at both the University of Illinois and University of Central Florida, aiming to distinguish himself from his legendary dad.

In a candid interview with The Washington Post back in 2005, I shared that while I may not be among the elite few players in my state, my ambition burns bright. I strive to prove my worth on this competitive field and demonstrate that I’m more than just a familiar name.

Back when I was a student at UCF, just like any dedicated hoops enthusiast, I honed my skills on the basketball court as well. It was my old man who guided me, setting the course for my journey.

In an interview with The Gainesville Sun in 2011, he mentioned that he would provide advice and guidance whenever I had questions or issues. However, what he was essentially saying was to stay focused and put in hard work daily, as success would follow eventually.

LeBron James Jr., who was born on October 6, 2004, and is popularly known as Bronny James, played high school basketball for Chatsworth Sierra Canyon in the San Fernando Valley. Following his graduation, he transitioned to the University of Southern California.

As a dedicated follower, I’ve had to juggle my NBA schedule and my desire to watch my son, Bronny, play basketball. Despite the challenges, I’ve gone to extraordinary measures to catch him in action. For instance, on one of my off-days, I even chartered a plane just to witness Sierra Canyon take on his own alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary, in Akron, Ohio.

LeBron James said it feels incredibly special and full-circle-like, almost unbelievable, to be watching his son play while also facing off against his alma mater,” (LeBron told reporters).

In June 2024, it was announced that Bronny had been selected for the Los Angeles Lakers roster. This made him and LeBron the unique pair of a father and son simultaneously playing in the NBA.

 

Additionally, who else is part of the illustrious Sierra Canyon basketball team? None other than Zaire Wade, the eldest son of the retired Miami Heat player and, at one point, teammate to LeBron James, namely Dwyane Wade.

Zaire, who joined them in December 2019 from Florida, told Yahoo! Sports that he needs to accept the fact that his team is under intense scrutiny due to the extraordinary amount of media interest they’re receiving. He mentioned that there are cameras following them everywhere, and the attention on him has been significant throughout his life, but this level of attention is off the charts.

Despite feeling dissatisfied with the limited game time he received, Zaire announced on Instagram in April 2020 his decision to transfer to Brewster Academy located in Wolfeboro, Florida.

2021 saw Zaire selected as the tenth pick in the NBA G League draft, joining the Salt Lake City Stars. Later, he played for the Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League. In April 2024, he made a move to join a team in the ASEAN Basketball League.

 

The former football legend has a daughter, Cha’iel Johnson, who could potentially outshine him now. At just twelve years old, she demonstrated remarkable athletic prowess by competing in the track and field events of the 2017 AAU Junior Olympics, where she won the girls’ 800-meter run.

Before attending the University of Kentucky athletics team, she previously represented St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida.

 

The third child of the NBA Hall of Famer, standing at 6-feet-10, once played basketball for UCLA in college, but was later forced to stop due to a heart condition requiring surgery.

During his 2018-19 academic year, he spent time at a school based in California, but did not participate in sports. Subsequently, he moved to Louisiana State University, where an impressive 900-pound bronze statue of Shaq stands outside the LSU Basketball Practice Facility, honoring one of their distinguished alumni.

Following his graduation from LSU, the accomplished basketball player signed up with the NBA G League Ignite – an NBA G League’s developmental basketball team – in the year 2022.

 

In 2020, Shaq’s daughter (who stands at 6 feet 2 inches tall and is pictured here with her brother Shareef O’Neal), announced her intention to attend LSU. She plans to play college basketball for the school alongside her sibling.

This version maintains the original meaning while aiming to be more natural and easy to read by rephrasing some of the sentence structure and adding additional information for clarity.

At that time, she expressed that the transition from high school to college is one of the toughest decisions for someone my age. Despite not knowing exactly what lies ahead, she is eager and prepared to face the challenge. Surprisingly, she finds herself saying this with enthusiasm: she has decided to become a student-athlete at LSU, joining her brother Shareef O’Neal. She expresses profound gratitude for the opportunity to spend the next four years as a Tiger.

Later on, she joined the Texas Southern University basketball squad for the 2021-2022 season by transferring to them.

 

In college at Sierra Canyon, the oldest child of two-time NBA All-Star Zack Randolph teamed up with fellow basketball progeny Izela Arenas, daughter of NBA legend Gilbert Arenas, for games on the court.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in December 2020, Randolph shared that he played for Michigan State under coach Tom Izzo. He described Izzo as tough and no-nonsense, noting that the male players could handle a certain level of roughness. However, when it came to the female players, they had more of a soft spot in his heart. According to Randolph, the girls would often look at him with a caring tone, saying something like “Dad, I’m trying.” This made him develop a special affection for them.

Mackenly mentioned that she had won against her father in three one-on-one matches, jokingly adding, “He doesn’t focus much on defense.

In 2019, the son of an NFL Hall of Famer who stands at 6 feet 3 inches chose Florida Atlantic University as a preferred walk-on. Terique had primarily played basketball throughout his life but switched to football during his teenage years. After high school, he began his playing career at Contra Costa Community College before transferring elsewhere.

After his college football career, Terique signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad.

A student who graduated from Sierra Canyon High School was the starting player for four consecutive years and clinched two state championships. Later, he spent his college career at Vanderbilt University. In 2022, he secured a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Following a short spell with the NBA affiliate team, the South Bay Lakers, Scott Jr. secured a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies in the year 2024.

The renowned basketball player, who led the Chicago Bulls to five NBA championships, is not only a skilled athlete but also a proud father.

His son, either Dennis Rodman Jr. or DJ, excelled in both basketball and football while attending Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California. Upon graduating, he moved on to play as a forward at Washington State University. In the year 2023, he transferred his studies and basketball career to the University of Southern California.

In simpler terms, Ryan Schachter, his high school coach, remarked to the Orange County Register following a 2017 game that he considered him to be one of the less recognized or lesser-known players in Southern California.

After his college career, DJ joined Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League in 2024.

Even though DJ, Dennis’ son, chose a career in basketball like his father, his daughter Trinity Rodman broke away from this trend and ventured into the realm of soccer. Unfortunately, her debut season with Washington State Cougars was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she didn’t let that hold her back and made her professional debut with Washington Spirit in 2021. In 2022, she also joined the United States women’s national soccer team, showcasing her exceptional talent on a larger stage.

In 2024, Trinity won Olympic gold as part of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 

It’s quite appropriate that the greatest golfer of all time, or GOAT, has a son who showcases exceptional talent on the golf course. At just 11 years old, Charlie Woods made his first televised golf appearance, playing alongside his father at the 2020 PNC Championship.

When asked if he had been practicing his swing before their upcoming father-son outing, the 15-time major champion replied, “I haven’t devoted any effort. I’m not particularly focused on my game right now. My primary goal is to ensure that Charlie has a fantastic time and can fully appreciate this experience.

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2025-08-13 21:47