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Lakers’ Bronny James not focused on LeBron’s future with franchise


EL SEGUNDO — For Bronny James, the focus over the next couple of weeks will be on his summer league play with the Lakers.

Not the growing speculation surrounding his dad, LeBron James, and his future with the franchise after comments from his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, made it less clear how much of the elder James' future will be with the Lakers.

And that approach is exactly what LeBron has encouraged of Bronny, the No. 55 pick in last year's draft, who had a business-as-usual approach Wednesday for the Lakers' summer league team's practice.

"One of my friends called me, talking about where, what I was gonna do," Bronny said. [Because] they [saw] my dad, whatever. I didn't see it. He called me. 'I was like, Yeah, I have no idea what you're talking about.'

"I don't really pay attention to that stuff. There's a lot of stuff going around that I don't pay attention to."

LeBron opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers for the 2025-26 season Sunday, bypassing the opportunity to become a free agent earlier this week.

Paul issued statements to multiple media outlets, first to ESPN, saying that James will monitor the Lakers' offseason moves.

"He knows the Lakers are building for the future," part of Paul's statement said. "He 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 [Lakers owner and governor] Jeanie [Buss] and [general manager] Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.

"We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him."

Speculation about LeBron's future spread throughout the league, but Paul later clarified to ESPN that there haven't been trade talks regarding the elder James.

Bronny said that he and LeBron don't discuss his dad's future with the franchise.

"We don't really talk about it much," Bronny said. "But I think when stuff like that does come up, he just tells me to not worry about it, not even pay attention to it. Just lock into what you have going on right now. And that's what's gonna get me better and to keep me focused. It's good that he tells me to not pay attention to that stuff."

So the focus remains on Bronny's growth and development

"Just creating space for myself," he said of what he's focused on since the season ended. "Just getting downhill more. Use my body as a big point guard, just trying to use my body as best as I can. Just shooting off the dribble, stuff like that. Everything. I've been working on everything. So trying to get better as a player overall."

Second-round pick Adou Thiero, whom the Lakers selected with the No. 36 pick in the draft, won't participate in the team's summer league games. He's in the final stages of his return-to-play process from a left knee ailment he dealt with at Arkansas. Thiero is expected to be fully cleared for training camp.

The roster includes undrafted free agents Eric Dixon (Villanova), RJ Davis (North Carolina), Arthur Kaluma (Texas) and T.Y. Johnson (UC Davis) among others. Cole Swider, who played for the South Bay Lakers in the G League last season, is one of several veterans on the roster, which includes DJ Steward and Darius Bazley.

The Lakers begin their summer schedule with three games in four days as part of the California Classic at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Lakers face the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2), square off with the Miami Heat on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (NBATV) and face the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday at 7 p.m. (ESPN)

The team will then head to Las Vegas to participate in the league-wide 2K26 Summer League, with their first game scheduled for July 10 at 5 p.m. PT (ESPN) against the Dallas Mavericks at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Lakers' summer league team will be coached by assistant coach Beau Levesque in the California Classic and then by assistant coach Lindsey Harding in the Las Vegas games.

Originally Published: July 2, 2025 at 4:36 PM PDT

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