LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts with Bronny James and Bryce James after scoring to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Harry How/Getty Photographs/AFP
LOS ANGELES – LeBron James applauds the decision made by his son, Bryce, to play basketball at the University of Arizona next season.
After James scored 38 points for the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night in the third-highest scoring performance by an NBA player after turning 40, the leading scorer in NBA history praised the college choice made Wednesday for his youngest son.
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READ; LeBron James’ youngest son Bryce commits to Arizona
“It was his decision and it was where he felt comfortable,” LeBron said. “Coach (Tommy) Lloyd is outspoken. I gave him exactly what they believe (about) him, what they think about him as a person, as a player. “We are happy to be part of the Bear Down community now.”
Bryce James is a four-star recruit at Sierra Canyon School in suburban Chatsworth. That’s the same private high school where his older brother, Bronny, played his final season in 2022-23.
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Bronny played one year in Southern California before entering the draft, where the Lakers selected him in the second round. LeBron and Bronny became the first father and son to play together in the NBA in October.
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READ: LeBron turns 40 and says he could play ‘another 5 or 7 years’ in the NBA
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LeBron, who turned 40 on Monday, muted his praise for Arizona only when it allowed him to attack two of his former NBA teammates.
“I have some terrible friends at Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye who are students there,” James said with a smile. “I’m not super excited about that, but other than that, we’re excited to be part of the Tucson community.”
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James, Jefferson and Frye were together on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ championship team in 2016, winning the city’s only major professional sports title.
Bryce James also reportedly received a scholarship offer from Ohio State and took an unofficial visit last fall to the top school in his parents’ home state.
LeBron is a longtime fan of Ohio State athletics and has avidly followed the football team’s march to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
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When a reporter mentioned the Buckeyes’ blowout victory over top-ranked Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday, James responded earnestly: “Ohio State did what? We did what? before donning a Buckeyes cap with a smile.
