"He's gonna be 42, bro": Bryce James gives honest answer to possibility of father LeBron James waiting for him to get drafted
Bryce James, the second son of LeBron James, is in his senior year of high school and will likely begin his college career next year. That means he could be part of the 2026 NBA Draft class if all things go according to plan. But will LeBron wait for his second son to get drafted before retiring?
In a reel from Bryce's Instagram Live, the 17-year-old forward was asked about the possibility of his father waiting for him in two years. He thought that it was OD or overdone and pointed out that the LA Lakers superstar would be close to 42 years old by that time.
"I ain't gonna lie, that's OD. Waiting until I, nah, that's too much. ... That's too much, nah. He's gonna be 42, bro," Bryce said.
Bryce James being skeptical about his father's longevity should come as a surprise. LeBron James has invested a lot of money in his body and has maintained most of his athleticism despite being the oldest player in the league.
The LA Lakers forward is also planning to sign a three-year, $162 million contract this offseason. That means he could wait for Bryce to come into the NBA as part of the 2026 draft class along with other second-generation stars such as Cameron and Camden Boozer and Ashton Hardaway.
Bryce is not as athletic as Bronny, but he's taller at 6-foot-6. He also has good size, and shooting touch and seems to have inherited his father's basketball IQ. He's already been linked to three college programs – USC, Ohio State and Duquesne.
Duquesne and Ohio State have made official offers to Bryce, while USC was linked due to his brother Bronny playing his freshman season there.
LeBron James wants to play with Bronny and Bryce James in the NBA
In an interview with Sports Illustrated back in 2022, LeBron James expressed his desire to play with both his sons, Bronny and Bryce James, in the NBA. LeBron got closer to his dream when the LA Lakers drafted Bronny in the second round of this year's NBA Draft.
"I feel like I could play for quite a while. So it's all up to my body, but more importantly, my mind. If my mind can stay sharp and fresh and motivated, then the sky's not even a limit for me. I can go beyond that. But we shall see," James said.
With the way how LeBron takes care of his body and the length of his contract with the LA Lakers, "The King" could realistically play with both of his sons in the NBA. The Lakers will likely need to get another draft pick, possibly higher depending on how Bryce develops in the next two years.