LeBron James' Move to 76ers Shifts Focus to Bronny's Lakers

LeBron James has officially joined the Philadelphia 76ers, a seismic shift that immediately impacts the future of his son, Bronny James, on the Los Angeles Lakers roster. The move, confirmed in the 2026 offseason, ends LeBron's tenure with the Lakers and places his 21-year-old son under a new spotlight of independence.

Bronny James Charts His Own Path After Father's Departure

With LeBron no longer a Laker, questions about Bronny's place on the team have intensified. The Lakers, however, offered a significant vote of confidence by fully guaranteeing his $2.2 million contract for the upcoming season. Former NBA veteran Matt Barnes sees the separation as a positive development for the young guard. "I think it's great now that obviously Bron is gone and Bronny is kinda on his own," Barnes told TMZ Sports. He believes Bronny was looking forward to proving he could succeed without his father's direct influence.

Bronny's future remains fluid. His contract for the 2027-2028 season is a $2.4 million team option the Lakers must decide on by June 30, 2027. He could also be a trade candidate before the February 2027 deadline.

Rare Kobe and LeBron Card Emerges for Historic Auction

A unique piece of NBA memorability is hitting the market. A one-of-a-kind 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection card featuring autographs and game-worn jersey patches from both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James will be sold at public auction this month through Alt. The card, recently graded a PSA 8, had been hidden in a private collection for nearly two decades.

This card is part of a legendary set. A similar Bryant and Michael Jordan Dual Logoman card from the same series sold for a record $12.93 million in August 2025. While Alt has not provided a pre-sale estimate, a comparable Bryant-James card from the 2009-10 set sold for $1.16 million last year. The 2007-08 season captured on the card was iconic: Bryant won his only regular-season MVP, and James secured his only scoring title.

Racehorse Gold Phoenix Draws LeBron-Like Longevity Praise

In horse racing, an 8-year-old gelding named Gold Phoenix is being compared to LeBron James for his sustained excellence. The horse, a 5-2 favorite, aimed to win the Del Mar Handicap for a fifth straight year on Saturday, August 30, 2026, a feat only matched by the legendary Kelso. Owners Gary Fenton and Billy Koch of Little Red Feather Racing explicitly cited athletes like LeBron and Tom Brady as examples of defying age.

Since his U.S. Debut in 2022, Gold Phoenix has won seven stakes races at Del Mar and earned over $2.5 million. The comparison highlights LeBron's cultural status as the ultimate benchmark for longevity in sports.

• LeBron's New Chapter: His move to the Philadelphia 76ers is the defining development of his 2026 offseason.
• Bronny's Guarantee: The Lakers fully guaranteed Bronny James' $2.2 million contract, signaling belief in his potential.
• Historic Memorabilia: A one-of-a-kind Kobe Bryant and LeBron James trading card is set for its first public auction in September 2026.

Stories about a Premier League footballer and a New York Attorney General were reviewed but deemed not relevant to NBA athlete LeBron James.