LeBron James Next Team Odds: The King & Bronny Playing for MJ?

For a while now, LeBron James has been open and honest about his desire to someday play alongside his son, Bronny James, in the NBA. That day isn’t as far off as it once was. 

After a stellar high school career, Bronny James will attend USC in the fall and play for the Trojans. That pairing will presumably last one year, before Bronny enters the 2024 NBA Draft. 

There’s little coincidence that LeBron James owns a player option for the 2024-25 season. By forgoing the option, LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent – and join Bronny, with whichever team drafts his son. We don't buy that LeBron is serious about retirement. We know he's serious about playing with Bronny - it's his his stated plan.

So which team will hit the James lottery in 2024-25? Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson has revealed his hypothetical as to where the James boys team up for 2024-25. 

LeBron James & Bronny James Team Odds For 2024-25

Odds are projected and do not reflect any odds that may be available at legal or . Odds don't always add up to 100% because they're based off a hypothetical sportsbook setting the line.

Where Could LeBron & Bronny Play?

Projecting Bronny’s draft placement is a matter of opinion and conjecture at this point. Prior to his senior year of high school ball, Bronny James was projected to be a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

Some media outlets, including ESPN, have Bronny going in the top 10 overall, thanks in part to a presumed package deal with pops. Other draft prognosticators believe he could fall into the middle of the second round. 

We tend to believe first round, probably lottery? Here’s why: In early 2022, LeBron James announced that his final year as a pro would be alongside Bronny as a teammate. “My last year will be played with my son,” James told The Athletic. “Wherever Bronny is at, that's where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It's not about the money at that point.”

Before this 2022-23 NBA season, LeBron agreed to terms on a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with the Lakers that includes a player option for 2024-25. So LeBron can choose where he'll play when Bronny becomes draft eligible. Suddenly, a 2-for-1 draft pick that includes one of the greatest players of all time might be in play.

LeBron is 38 now and will be in his age 40 season when Bronny enters the NBA. Even in his advanced-for-NBA age, James is consistently averaging around 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. Those numbers may not be as high when Bronny enters the NBA, but most teams would do whatever it takes to add someone of LeBron's caliber – especially if money isn’t a sticking point.

Of the top 10 teams with projected cap space for the 2024-25 seasons, seven of them have +10000 odds or higher to win the 2023-24 title. Meaning those seven teams will likely have a prime draft pick for next year and a lot of money to add, say, a legend in free agency. 

The Houston Rockets appeared on a trajectory to get the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, but now French star Victor Wembanyama appears headed to San Antonio. If the Rockets don’t make a splash in free agency this summer with the most cash available, they will likely have a solid draft pick and are currently No. 1 in available cap space for 2024-25.

Look at who we have listed as the second-most likely destination for LeBron and Bronny: The Charlotte Hornets. LeBron and Bronny playing for MJ? That would set the internet on fire. 

Jordan is nothing if not a business man and he would add to his riches if he remains owner long enough (he's in talks to sell and remain a minority partner) to snag LeBron and Bronny. The Hornets are projected to have the 7th-most cap space in 2024-25 and should be in position to draft Bronny (if they're in the lottery; if their pick is 15-30 it goes to the Spurs).

The James crew could pull an Eli Manning and flat out refuse to play for certain teams, forcing them to shy away at the draft. That could get them to a more-preferred destination such as either L.A. team or Cleveland, where LeBron is from. The L.A. Lakers would love to be the father-son landing spot, and the James’ would likely pick that as their top choice, too. Nothing is impossible. 

The L.A. Clippers badly wanted LeBron in his last free agency run and the move would make sense for the James’ family, who live and work in L.A. The Lakers and Clippers are both currently void of a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but both will likely try to move up if it means keeping LeBron (in the Lakers' case) or finally acquiring LeBron (for the Clippers).

The Cleveland Cavaliers would also be a nice career capper for LeBron, to return home for one year and play with his son in Ohio. The other three mentioned teams haven’t been in the  mix for a title for a while. Adding Bronny and LeBron could change that.

The Orlando Magic are No. 2 in cap space for next summer and don’t yet appear to be vying to be massive free agent players this off-season. But they're massive underdogs to acquire LeBron, who said he won't go to Orlando under any circumstances due to PTSD from the 2020 "bubble" postseason. He might feel differently if they draft Bronny, though.

The Detroit Pistons andIndiana Pacers likely aren’t high on preferred spots, but those teams may be in the best shape to draft one and sign the other.