LeBron Reacts to McAfee Asking About Playing with Bryce in NBA, 'Don't Do That to Me'

While LeBron James made no secret of his desire to team up with oldest son Bronny in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers star isn't pushing his luck when it comes to younger son Bryce.

"Don't do that to me," James said Wednesday on The Pat McAfee Show when the host brought up Bryce.

The 21-time All-Star didn't set a firm timeline for his eventual retirement but said he's "on the other side of the hill than the previous side."

Bryce, for his part, is clear-eyed about the likelihood LeBron is still competing in the NBA by the time he arrives in the pros. The 17-year-old, who will be eligible for the draft in 2026, said in an Instagram Live session last summer "that's too much."

This scenario also requires an NBA team to pick Bryce, which is far from a foregone conclusion given his standing within the 2025 recruiting class. The Arizona commit is the No. 257 overall player in 247Sports' composite rankings.

Bronny, by comparison, was the 22nd-ranked prospect for 2023, though his college career was derailed by his medical scare during an offseason workout.

One downside to LeBron publicizing his goal of playing alongside Bronny is that it invited even more scrutiny toward his son. Setting zero expectations with Bryce helps to ease the burden on his shoulders at the next level.