LeBron James and his son Bronny are teammates on the Lakers now in what will be an atypical father-son relationship.
In an upcoming episode of his show, “The Shop” podcast, the elder James was asked about what their working relationship would be like and if Bronny is going to call him “Dad” at practice.
“No, we already laid that, already laid that down,” LeBron said. “Cannot call me ‘Dad’ in the workplace. Once we leave out of the private facility and the gates close, I can be ‘Dad’ again. In the car, if we ride together, at home, I can be ‘Dad.’”
Is @KingJames cool with Bronny calling him “Dad” on the court? 👀🏀#TheShop Live From Paris premieres this Thursday, 8/29 on our YouTube channel!Presented by @Nike. pic.twitter.com/96Yh3TRYmn
— The Shop (@TheShopUN) August 27, 2024
LeBron opened up about what Bronny can and can’t call him on the court with the Lakers. The Shop/X
LeBron offered some alternative names for his son to call him.
“No, he got to call me, like, ‘2-3’ or ‘Bron,’” he said. “Or you know, ‘GOAT’ if he want to. It’s up to him.”
Earlier this offseason, Bronny signed a four-year deal with the Lakers worth $7.9 million with the caveat that the final year of the contract is not guaranteed.
LeBron James during a Lakers-Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in February. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
In July, LeBron spoke to ESPN about what he wanted to see from his son during the NBA Summer League.
“Just get his feet wet with the NBA,” LeBron said at the time. “The pace of the game, the speed of the game, the physicality of the game. But what he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn’t matter if he plays well, and it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play well. I just want him to continue to grow, practices, film sessions, his individual workouts.”
Bronny James Jr. of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to scoring on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half of a 2024 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 18, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images
Midway through the summer league, Bronny left the door open for the possibility of starting his professional basketball career for the Lakers’ G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
“I’m just looking forward to any basketball I play,” Bronny said. “No matter what level I’m playing at.”