EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- When LeBron James left the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, he consulted his family on the decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. But when it came to his son and teammate Bronny, much was apparently left unsaid.
"We're men of very little words when it comes to talking about business and what we're going to do and how we feel about each other. So, it wasn't really much [discussion] to be honest with you," Bronny James said Monday at Lakers media day.
"He's got his own path, and I got my own. He knows that I want to make a name for myself, and I want to continue my career and keep growing as a player. And he knows that I want to focus on that. So, he decided to do that."
LeBron and Bronny have routinely been in unique situations in league history. Whether it was opening night two years ago, when the father-and-son duo entered the game together or last season in the playoffs, when they combined to deliver a 10-0 run during a victory over the Houston Rockets. Navigating a complex free agency where the father leaves and the son stays is another one for the books.
Bronny James, whose $2.3 million contract for this season is guaranteed, said that he has spent the summer focusing on his role backing up Lakers guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Bronny played in 42 games last season and eight playoff games.
"You guys know me as Bronny. My real name is LeBron. I've been doing this for however long," Bronny James said. "It's a motivating factor for me just getting up every day and trying to prove myself as Bronny instead of LeBron."
Though LeBron and Bronny might not have spoken about the move much, Bronny wishes his father well and is looking forward to the first time the Lakers face the 76ers this season, on Christmas in L.A.
"I'm happy for him and excited to see where their season goes," Bronny James said. "I'm excited to see him on Christmas. I'm excited to play against him on Christmas, so that's going to be good."
Not having LeBron is a significant adjustment for the Lakers and his son. L.A. has nine new players and is trying to focus on this season and not on the past. It is the start of the first season without LeBron since 2017-18.
"It was kind of sad [that he left]; playing with LeBron was amazing," Doncic said about James' departure. "There's a lot of things I learned from him, and we all know who LeBron James is. We spent time together, and it was amazing."