LeBron James has already seen his elder son, Bronny, make impressive strides this season. At just 19 years old, Bronny etched his name in NBA history alongside his father, as the pair became the first father-son duo ever to share the court in the league. While Bronny’s move to the NBA has divided opinion, the James family isn’t paying heed to the noise. As if one chapter of the James family story wasn’t remarkable enough, LeBron’s younger son, Bryce, added another layer by committing to Arizona, signaling his own path to basketball stardom. And Bryce isn’t just sitting around. Ahead of his impending move, he linked up with one of the most experienced coaches in the game- someone who is quite familiar with the James last name.

Remember the NBA Finals in 2016? The Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, had lost the first two games, and it took an uncharacteristic outburst from a coach to bring them to life. The coach hit out at the players for not being tough enough, and it worked. The Cavs won Game 3 and eventually won the title. The coach in question is none other than three-time NBA champion Phil Handy.

Bryce James was recently seen working out with the former Lakers development coach, Handy, who also worked with his father during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cavaliers. Handy shared a post on Instagram which included Tajh Ariza (son of Trevor Ariza), and Jaxson Handy, alongside Bryce, and wrote, “Whole lot of next generation talent and an Ole Head in this pic😂.” Sure enough, LeBron was quick to react to the post.

Taking to the comment section, he simply wrote, “Yessir!!!! 🫡”—in response to a photo of his youngest son, Bryce James, working out with  Phil Handy. It wasn’t just a proud dad moment. It was a quiet approval stamped with everything unsaid: that he sees the shift, feels the weight of the moment, and endorses the journey ahead. But for LeBron, this wasn’t about Instagram clout. It was about a moment that crept up on him, just like it did with Bronny.

James will move to Arizona toward the end of summer to begin his collegiate career with the Wildcats. Speaking on the “Mind The Game” podcast alongside Steve Nash, LeBron acknowledged, “My youngest son is headed off to college soon, so that’s another bird out the nest. A very emotional moment coming up for Bryce going off to Tucson to be an Arizona Wildcat.”

Bryce isn’t entering college as a four-star prospect like his older brother Bronny. In fact, he’s currently a three-star recruit, ranked No. 257 in his class by 247 Sports. But that hasn’t tempered expectations—it’s reshaped them. Because this journey isn’t just about stardom. It’s about steady growth, self-definition, and surviving the shadow of a global icon.

And it starts now. Not on draft night, not at Summer League. But here, in the gym, in the goodbye hugs, and in the silent pauses between LeBron’s podcast reflections.

Handy is renowned for his expertise in player development, particularly with guards and wings—the very position Bryce plays. Having worked closely with elite talents like Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, and, of course, Bryce’s father, LeBron James, Handy brings a proven track record of elevating top-tier players. With that pedigree, it’s safe to say Bryce is learning from one of the best in the business.

This is the next chapter in the James family dynasty. And it’s not starting with a roar, but with a father’s tearful pride and a son’s quiet grind.

The blueprint LeBron is rewriting — How Bryce’s path is already different

It’s impossible to separate Bryce James from the mythos he was born into. But if the public thinks this is Bronny 2.0, LeBron James is already proving otherwise. From choice of college to timing, tone, and training, Bryce’s blueprint is different, and it’s intentional.

The University of Arizona isn’t just a basketball decision. It’s a message. Unlike USC, where Bronny was a half-hour from his father’s locker room and surrounded by media flashbulbs, Tucson offers distance—both physical and emotional. It’s the first real sign that LeBron is loosening the reins.

Bryce will be away from the LA bubble. No red carpets. No Lakers practice visits. No overlapping schedules. Just a 17-year-old in a gym trying to prove he belongs. And that’s what makes this moment bigger than basketball. LeBron isn’t just sending a son to college. He’s releasing a second chapter—one written with more trust, more perspective, and perhaps a bit more vulnerability than before.

We’ve seen what hyper-visibility did to Bronny. Every dunk dissected. Every game was analyzed in the context of a 20-year legacy. Bryce enters with less media noise, but no less expectation.

Which is why training with Phil Handy matters. Handy’s not just a coach with rings. He’s someone LeBron trusted during title runs. That he’s now pouring that same mentorship into Bryce is a symbol: LeBron is still steering the ship, but he’s letting someone else take the wheel for a while.

In this transition, fans are also witnessing something rare: a legend preparing to step away, not from the game, but from the center of the family spotlight. Will LeBron still try to play one game with Bryce, as he did with Bronny? Possibly. But that’s not the point right now. For perhaps the first time in two decades, it’s not about what LeBron wants—it’s about what Bryce needs.

This is about pace over pressure. It’s about a three-star who’s building brick by brick, not being handed a throne. It’s about a family redefining legacy—not just through banners, but through boundaries. That’s the chapter LeBron is writing now—not just as a father, but as a man who’s learned the game isn’t only played on hardwood. It’s played in homes, in hugs, and in the quiet understanding that letting go is its own kind of greatness.