The debate over who's the "GOAT," or "greatest of all time," in basketball will undoubtedly rage on for years to come.
Most NBA fans have been split, some arguing that five-time MVP Michael Jordan still reigns supreme or Kobe Bryant with his five championships, while others believe LeBron James, who over 21 seasons has garnered the most career NBA points of all time, has more than proved he's the best.
But LeBron sees another player as the real "GOAT" — his 19-year-old son Bronny James.
The proud dad previously celebrated his son's 19th birthday with a sweet Instagram.
"On and off the cour t you're the (GOAT) @bronny!!" he wrote on Oct. 19, referring to the "greatest of all time." "Happy Born-Day son!!! Love you kid. Keep going up!"
Bronny hasn't made his way to the NBA yet, but has already become known worldwide for his talent on the court. He's currently playing college basketball at the University of Southern California, though he will soon have to decide whether to stay, transfer to another school or declare for the 2024 NBA draft.
"I don't know where it came from, but at the end of the day, Bronny's his own man and he has some tough decisions to make. When he's ready to make those decisions, he'll let us all know. But as his family, we're going to support whatever he does," LeBron said on April 2 regarding rumors that Bronny will enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Even as LeBron gears up for his eventual retirement from one of the best NBA careers of all time, don't think Bronny will be the only one keeping the James family in the spotlight.
Bronny is the eldest son of LeBron and Savannah James, who also share a younger son, Bryce Maximus, and a daughter, Zhuri Nova.
Here's what to know about LeBron James' three kids.
LeBron James, Bryce James, Zhuri James, Savannah James and Bronny James (Christopher Polk / Variety via Getty Images)
Bronny JamesLeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr., 19, is the oldest child of LeBron and Savannah James.
He has followed in his dad's athletic footsteps, gaining widespread attention for his basketball skills from a young age. Just before his 10th birthday in 2014, a video went viral of Bronny hitting a one-handed half-court shot while shooting hoops with his dad at the Cavaliers' practice court.
His high school basketball career at the Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles caught the interest of several recruiters, and this May, he committed to the University of Southern California as a five-star recruit.
While LeBron has always been supportive of Bronny's basketball career, he has also been protective of his son over the years.
In 2015, the Los Angeles Lakers star spoke out against college coaches who were already sending letters and scholarship offers to 10-year-old Bronny.
"It's pretty crazy. It should be a violation. You shouldn't be recruiting 10-year-old kids," he told CBS Detroit at the time.
The father of three also opened up about not letting his kids play football growing up.
"It's a safety thing," he told ESPN in 2014. "As a parent you protect your kids as much as possible."
Bronny James' star has only continued to rise. Last year, he became the first high school student to sign an endorsement deal with Beats, joining his dad as brand ambassador.
He also signed a $10 million deal with Nike in October 2022, before even being eligible for t he NBA draft for the 2024-25 season.
On July 24, the freshman guard was rushed to the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest during a USC workout, according to a statement from a family spokesperson.
He was treated and as of July 25 is in stable condition, the family said.
LeBron and wife Savannah sent their "deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work and dedication to the safety of their athletes."
Bronny intends to play basketball this season at USC. As of Oct. 2, he had not returned to the team yet, per his dad, but he is on campus taking classes and is doing "extremely well."
Bryce Maximus JamesBryce Maximus James, 16, is the youngest son and m iddle child of Lebron and Savannah James.
Like his older brother, Bronny, Bryce is following in his dad's basketball footsteps, and is already proving himself a gifted player.
Back in December, proud dad LeBron shared photos of Bryce and Bronny playing together in a high school basketball game. The brothers' team at Sierra Canyon High School was facing off against Christ the King High School, whose team included the son of NBA legend Carmelo An thony.
In December 2022, Bryce signed with Klutch Sports, the agency founded by Rich Paul that also represents his dad.
Bryce also revealed last year that he had received his first Division I scholarship offer from Duquesne University, according to Sports Illustrated.
He has also already been attracting attention from multiple NBA scouts, including scouts from the Lakers, Magic and the Cavaliers, according to Sports Lens.
Growing up, Bryce also played soccer and other sports, but was already beginning to focus on basketball by age 7, according to ESPN.
Zhuri JamesZhuri Nova James, 9, is the youngest member of the James crew.
When she was just 1 year old, she stole the show after her dad's NBA Finals win on Father's Day in 2016 when LeBron held her in his arms during a post-game press conference.
In 2020, with help from her parents, Zhuri launched a YouTube channel called "All Things Zhuri," which would focus on "cuteness, recipes, DIY, family adventures, pranks, tutorials and more."
On an Instagram page managed by her mom and dad, Zhuri has posted several cute photos and videos, including adorable pics of her with her mom as well as the James family pup, a French bulldog called Indigo.
As the youngest James sibling, Zhuri's interests are of course still developing, but her dancing skills have already gone viral on TikTok.
Back in 2020, The Score shared an adorable video of all five James family members performing a choreographed dance, with Zhuri grooving along with some impressive moves.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
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