Former NBA player Matt Barnes believes LeBron James’ departure from the Los Angeles Lakers could give Bronny James an important opportunity to establish himself without his father’s shadow.
LeBron James’ move away from Los Angeles has closed one chapter of the James family’s NBA story, but for Bronny James, it could mark the beginning of something different.
Former NBA player Matt Barnes believes the change could ultimately benefit the younger James.
Speaking to TMZ Sports in Los Angeles this week, Barnes said Bronny now has an opportunity to show that he can build his own career without constantly being linked to his father.
“A lot of people wanna say his dad got him drafted, and that may be true, may not be true,” Barnes said. “But Bronny has a lot of talent.”
Barnes added that he had previously believed Bronny might have benefited from spending another year before entering the NBA, saying he could have eventually established himself on his own.
LeBron’s departure changes Bronny’s situation
LeBron’s exit from the Lakers means Bronny will no longer share an NBA locker room with his father.
The younger James is entering his third professional season with Los Angeles, while LeBron has moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2026-27 season. LeBron’s departure ended his eight-year run with the Lakers, a period that included the franchise’s 2020 NBA championship.
For Bronny, the change removes one of the most obvious storylines surrounding his time in the NBA.
His arrival in the league was closely connected to his relationship with LeBron, and the two made history by becoming the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game.
Now, Bronny has to establish his identity separately.
Barnes believes that could be exactly what the 21-year-old guard needs.
“I think it’s great now that obviously Bron is gone and Bronny is kinda on his own,” Barnes said. “I think that’s something that he was kinda looking forward to, to kinda just say, ‘hey, I can do this without my dad.’”
Bronny still has plenty to prove
The opportunity does not mean the pressure has disappeared.
Bronny enters the season with a guaranteed contract, but his early NBA production has been modest. He is averaging 2.7 points per game while playing 8.1 minutes per game as a professional, according to the figures cited in Barnes’ discussion.
That makes the upcoming season particularly important for him.
With LeBron no longer alongside him, Bronny’s minutes, development and performances will be judged more directly on their own merits. Every improvement in his game can help move the conversation away from his family name and toward his development as an NBA player.
At the same time, LeBron’s departure does not automatically guarantee Bronny a larger role. Playing time will ultimately depend on his performance, development and what the Lakers need from their roster.
Barnes has one simple message for Bronny
Barnes, who spent 14 seasons in the NBA, believes the best approach is for Bronny to ignore the outside noise.
His advice was straightforward: focus on basketball and the people around him rather than the constant debate surrounding his career.
“Man, just keep doing your thing. Shut the other s*** out,” Barnes said.
He added that LeBron has likely already taught his son how to deal with that kind of attention.
“The only thing that matters is his circle, and his game.”
For Bronny, that may be the biggest challenge of the season.
With LeBron now playing in Philadelphia, there will be fewer opportunities to measure Bronny against his father directly. Instead, the focus can shift toward whether the young guard can carve out a meaningful role in Los Angeles through his own performances.
Barnes clearly believes he has the talent to do it. Now Bronny will have the chance to show it.
