Bryce James to redshirt freshman season at top-ranked Arizona

Youngest son of NBA star LeBron James will sit out 2026-27 season to develop further

Feb. 4, 2026 at 12:55am

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Bryce James, the youngest son of NBA superstar LeBron James, will redshirt his freshman season at the University of Arizona. The 6-foot-5 guard has yet to appear in a game for the top-ranked Wildcats this season, and head coach Tommy Lloyd cited the decision as a 'long play' to give Bryce the most options for his future career.

Why it matters

Bryce James was part of a highly touted freshman class at Arizona, but with the Wildcats off to a 22-0 start, the coaching staff has the luxury of taking their time in developing the young guard. This redshirt decision allows Bryce to focus on improving his game and physically maturing without the pressure of immediate playing time.

The details

Coach Tommy Lloyd confirmed that Bryce James will redshirt the 2026-27 season, citing the need to give the 6-foot-5 guard time to learn the system and physically mature. Lloyd expressed strong belief that Bryce will be a contributor for the Wildcats in the near future.

  • Bryce James has yet to appear in a game for Arizona this season.

The players

Bryce James

The youngest son of NBA star LeBron James, a 6-foot-5 guard who is part of a heralded freshman class at the University of Arizona.

Tommy Lloyd

The head coach of the University of Arizona men's basketball team, which is currently ranked number one in the country with a 22-0 record.

LeBron James

An NBA superstar and the father of Bryce James, who is redshirting his freshman season at Arizona.

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What they’re saying

“The redshirting decision was just a long play, to give Bryce the most options in his career as his career unfolds. I have real strong belief that Bryce will be a contributor at Arizona in the near future. He's really shown a lot of progress, not only learning our system but just physically maturing.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, University of Arizona (Big 12 Network)

What’s next

The Wildcats will continue their undefeated season as Bryce James focuses on developing his game during his redshirt year.

The takeaway

Bryce James' redshirt decision demonstrates the luxury Arizona has in being able to take a long-term approach with a talented young player, prioritizing his growth and development over immediate playing time.