Bronny James Could Leave Lakers in Expansion Draft

NBA expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle may provide an exit path for LeBron's son.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:24pm

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If the Los Angeles Lakers don't protect Bronny James in an upcoming NBA expansion draft, the son of LeBron James could end up getting selected by a new team, potentially providing him a chance to carve out his own NBA career away from the shadow of his famous father.

Why it matters

Bronny James has struggled to establish himself in the NBA so far, and an expansion draft could give him a fresh start with a new team where he wouldn't be overshadowed by his father's legacy. This could be an opportunity for Bronny to prove himself as a player in his own right.

The details

The NBA is considering adding expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, which would trigger an expansion draft where existing teams can only protect a certain number of players. Given Bronny's limited production so far, the Lakers may not protect him, leaving him available to be selected by one of the new teams. This could give Bronny a chance to develop his game without the constant comparisons to his father LeBron, who is likely to be retired by the time of the expansion draft.

  • The NBA is considering adding expansion teams in the next few years.
  • An expansion draft would likely take place around that time.

The players

Bronny James

The son of NBA superstar LeBron James, who is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron James

Bronny's father, a future Hall of Famer who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Stephen Noh

An NBA writer for The Sporting News who projected Bronny being selected by the Las Vegas expansion team in a mock expansion draft.

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What they’re saying

“With dad LeBron off the team by now, the Lakers part ways with Bronny. He gets a chance to carve out his own name as a 3-and-D guard off the bench, with LeBron and Savannah a short drive away to watch him play.”

— Stephen Noh, NBA Writer

What’s next

The NBA will need to finalize its expansion plans and timeline before any potential expansion draft would take place, which could determine Bronny James' future with the Lakers.

The takeaway

An NBA expansion draft could provide Bronny James with an opportunity to escape the shadow of his famous father and establish himself as an NBA player in his own right, potentially with a new team that would allow him to develop without the constant comparisons to LeBron.