For the first time in his brief NBA career, Lakers guard Bronny James is entering a season not being teammates with his superstar father, LeBron James. 

The difference in arriving at the Lakers training facility on Monday was apparent for the younger James.

“Feels like he’s not here,” Bronny said. “I don’t really have an opinion on that. That’s my dad, I spent 22 years almost living with him, so yeah, just another experience that I’m gonna be a part of and excited to see how it’s going to feel during the season too.”

LeBron, famously, left the Lakers as a free agent after spending eight seasons with the team – the most consecutive seasons he’s spent with a franchise since entering the league as the No. 1 pick in 2003.

Bronny said he and his father didn’t have many discussions about LeBron’s decision to sign with the 76ers.

“We’re men of very little words when it comes to talking about business, what we’re going to do and how we feel about each other,” Bronny said. “So there wasn’t really much to be honest with you.”

LeBron’s motivation to go to Philadelphia stemmed from his desire to give himself the best shot at competing for a championship.

“I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round,” the elder James said during the 76ers’ Media Day Monday.

“He’s got his own path and I got my own,” Bronny said. “So he knows that I want to make a name for myself and continue my career and keep growing as a player. And he knows that I want to focus on that. So he decides to do that, I’m happy for him and excited to see where their season goes.”

The Lakers will host the 76ers on a Christmas Day matchup in LeBron’s first game back in Southern California. 

The 76ers will also host the Lakers on March 4 in Philadelphia for the second regular season matchup between the teams.

“Excited to see him on Christmas,” Bronny said. “Excited to play against him on Christmas, so that’s gonna be good. That’s pretty much it.”

Since being the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, Bronny has been in LeBron’s enormous shadow.

With his dad no longer on the team, he’s looking to make a name for himself entering his third season in the NBA and with the Lakers.

“For me, just the motivating factor of creating my own path and my own career makes me want to get up every day and work hard,” Bronny said. “Come in the gym and learn from guys that have been around longer than me. And it’s just something that I’ve followed my entire life. You guys know me as Bronny and my real name is LeBron, like, I’ve been doing this for however long, so I think it’s a motivating factor for me just getting up every day and trying to prove myself as Bronny instead of LeBron.”

Bronny and LeBron did play each other in golf before joining their respective teams.

The result?

“I won,” Bronny said. “I won. He’s pretty pissed about it.”