I can do this without my dad: Why LeBron's move to the east is a blessing in disguise for Bronny James

For the first two seasons of his NBA career, Bronny James has rarely been able to escape the shadow of his father.

That was inevitable when LeBron James was still wearing the same Los Angeles Lakers uniform, but the dynamic is about to change dramatically.

LeBron is heading east after agreeing to join the Philadelphia 76ers , bringing an end to his eight-year run with the Lakers . The four-time NBA champion signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia after seriously considering retirement following the 2025-26 season.

For Bronny , however, his father's departure could represent something much bigger than a simple change in the Lakers ' roster.

Former NBA player Matt Barnes believes it could be the opportunity the 21-year-old needs to establish himself without constantly being compared with one of the greatest players in basketball history.

Barnes acknowledged the controversy that surrounded Bronny's entry into the NBA. The younger James was selected No. 55 overall by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft, creating the first father-son duo to play together in NBA history.

“A lot of people wanna say his dad got him drafted, and that may be true, may not be true,” Barnes told TMZ Sports. “But Bronny has a lot of talent, and I just thought if he would’ve stayed just one more year, he could’ve did it on his own.”

That debate is unlikely to disappear overnight. Bronny's draft selection was always going to attract scrutiny because of his famous surname, particularly after his lone season at USC did not produce the kind of numbers normally associated with a highly regarded NBA prospect.

But his professional development has been more complicated than simply looking at his NBA scoring average.

Bronny has spent significant time between the Lakers and their G League affiliate, allowing him to play considerably larger minutes and work on his game in a different environment. In the 2025-26 G League season, he averaged 15.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists, according to the NBA G League.

At the NBA level, his role remained limited. The Lakers' official statistics list him at 2.7 points, 1.1 assists and 0.6 rebounds per game while averaging 8.1 minutes. Yet there were signs of progress during his second season.

A chance to finally become Bronny James

The Lakers gave Bronny more meaningful opportunities late in the 2025-26 campaign, including appearances in the postseason. The Los Angeles Times noted that he scored his first playoff points and saw eight postseason appearances while continuing to work on his shooting confidence, decision-making and defense.

Now, with LeBron no longer occupying the same locker room, Bronny will have to navigate his development without his father beside him every day.

Barnes believes that separation could actually be exactly what Bronny wants: “I think it’s great now that obviously Bron is gone and Bronny is kinda on his own. I think that’s something that he was kinda looking forward to, to kinda just say, ‘hey, I can do this without my dad.’”

That does not mean LeBron is suddenly irrelevant to his son's career. If anything, the 23-time All-Star remains one of the most valuable basketball resources Bronny could possibly have.

But there is a difference between receiving advice from his father away from the court and having the two players constantly linked because they are teammates.

The Lakers have also made it clear that they remain willing to invest in Bronny's development.

His rookie contract, originally signed after the 2024 draft, was fully guaranteed for the 2026-27 season at roughly $2.3 million. He is therefore entering his third professional season with financial security and another opportunity to earn a larger role.

That gives Bronny something he did not necessarily have during his first two seasons: a chance for his progress to be judged more directly on its own merits.

There will still be pressure. Every mistake will attract attention because of his last name, while every good performance will inevitably be measured against expectations created by LeBron . But Barnes' advice is straightforward.

“Man, just keep doing your thing. Shut the other s*** out. I think his dad has probably been able to teach him that. The only thing that matters is his circle, and his game,” he said.

That may be the most important challenge facing Bronny as he enters his third NBA season.

LeBron's move to Philadelphia changes the family's basketball landscape, but it does not remove the expectations surrounding Bronny.

Instead, it gives the younger James an opportunity to answer the question that has followed him since before he entered the NBA: how good can he become when the conversation is finally about Bronny James, rather than LeBron's son?

For a young player still developing his game, that distinction could prove invaluable.