For Bronny James, Christmas Day has never meant a quiet morning by the tree. Growing up as the son of NBA icon LeBron James, the holiday was dictated by tip-off times, hectic travel schedules, and the roar of packed arenas instead of the rustle of wrapping paper in a cozy living room.
Yet, for the young Bronny, this was simply normal. Watching his father dominate the court on December 25th felt as much a part of the tradition as opening gifts. Now 21 years old and sharing the Los Angeles Lakers locker room with his legendary dad, Bronny is witnessing this long-standing family ritual from a profoundly new perspective.
A Family Tradition Forged Around the Game
For an incredible two decades, Christmas Day in the NBA has been synonymous with LeBron James. With 19 appearances since his rookie season, he became a permanent fixture of the holiday basketball slate. This legacy, however, required the entire James family to adapt their celebrations from the very beginning.
"You just tried to hope that game was home so we could have him home for Christmas," Bronny told ESPN. The family routine involved opening presents in the morning at their house. "If he's not there, then we'll wait or do it the day before. So, it's always been kind of like a coin flip. But we try to make it happen [on Christmas Day] as much as possible."
At home, the youngest James, Zhuri, often sets the frantic pace. "Zhuri will be up at 6 in the morning and already downstairs waiting for us," Bronny shared. "We'll come down like an hour later, and she'll be mad that we're so late. Just sitting there staring at the presents."
The Weight of Legacy and Changing Roles
The emotional calculus of Christmas has grown more complex for Bronny. The games remain special, but the personal cost behind the historic stats is now clearer. The planning burden fell heavily on his mother, Savannah. "It was difficult sometimes," Bronny acknowledged. "Especially for my mom, just having to plan something else."
LeBron himself expressed the bittersweet nature of the tradition. "I'd much rather be at home with my family," he admitted. "But it's the game. It's the game I love... It's always been an honor to play it. Obviously, I'm going to be completely honest, I would like to be home on the couch with my family all throughout the day."
Bronny now confronts the reality that his own career could soon upend the family dynamic further. "Time is about to come where I might be the one away and these guys are going to be home [without me]," he said, hinting at a future where roles are reversed. "So, it's something that we got to figure out." This poignant admission underscores that the era of LeBron's Christmas games is nearing its natural conclusion.
A Historic Chapter and a New Lakers Opportunity
The 2023 Christmas Day game wrote a unique chapter in NBA history. LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to be teammates on Christmas, even as Bronny watched from the bench while his father delivered a classic performance against Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors.
Currently, Bronny's immediate role with the Lakers is evolving. Following injuries to key guards like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Gabe Vincent, the Lakers recalled him from the G League to add depth to a thin backcourt. As Los Angeles manages its roster for durability, Bronny's role on the court could see a rapid expansion, marking another step in his own professional journey, separate from his father's shadow.
The Christmas tradition that defined the James family for a generation is now at a crossroads. The games gifted fans unforgettable memories, but for Bronny, they represent a childhood of adaptation and a future where he must carve his own path, potentially continuing the holiday sacrifice for the game he loves.
