The Los Angeles Lakers are really the epicenter of the NBA right now, with so many insiders talking about the possibility of a LeBron James trade. Such a trade would really be epic, since James has been largely expected to finish out his career in Los Angeles alongside his son, Bronny James, who is also part of the Lakers.
While playing with Bronny in Los Angeles has to be a thrill for James, he also wants to win a championship before he retires, and that may not be in the cards for the Lakers. So, there’s been plenty of buzz around the idea of James rounding out his NBA career with a team that’s already in line to make it to the championship during the 2025-26 season.
Now, Bronny is opening up about his mindset going into the new season amid all of the James trade rumors. The Lakers drafted Bronny during the 2024 NBA draft in the second round as the 55th overall pick.
Bronny James Discusses the Future
Bronny doesn’t seem to be letting the trade talk about his dad get to him in a negative way. Gearing up for his second season in the NBA, James recently sent a strong message about where he is right now in his game and what he’s looking to do in the future.
His two-word message was that he’s going to be a “defensive menace.”
“There’s gonna be guys that can score 15, 20 a game,” James said, according to Legion Hoops. “I’m most likely not going to be that guy right now… I’ve got to be a defensive menace.”
So, Bronny is showing that he’s wise enough to know that there are some things he can do right now and can’t, and so it’s smart to lean into reasonable goals and what he can likely get done. Whether or not his father will be by his side to help is still a question, but it would seem shocking to have James not end his NBA career alongside his beloved son.
Lakers and LeBron James Trade Chatter
So, Bronny seems to have his sights set on the future with the Lakers, but what about LeBron? The reason the trade talk is heating up so much is because James’ agent Rich Paul told ESPN’s Shams Charania that the superstar “wants to compete for a championship,” which may not be possible right now for the Lakers.
Paul added that “he knows the Lakers are building for the future” and that James “understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
There are certainly other teams in the NBA right now who would be better contenders to get to the championship during the 2025-26 season, so if James really wants to go out with one more championship under his belt, he’s perhaps better off going elsewhere. But, it’s not all about winning, and staying with his son in the Lakers may also be a desirable thing.
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