Copyright sportskeeda
LeBron James’ youngest son, Bryce James, is likely to have an unconventional career at the University of Arizona. The goal for Bryce remains the same as his older brother, Bronny, as he aims to make it to the NBA.As he prepares to set off on his college basketball journey, there is a chance that James’ first season ends up being uneventful. Speaking to the media on Friday, Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd discussed the possibility of Bryce redshirting his freshman year in college.“The reason I say that (redshirting is a possibility) is because I believe in Bryce. If you didn’t believe in somebody, why would you spend extra resources on them or extra time?”Brian Pedersen @realBJPLINK'We've talked that there might be some opportunities that some guys could redshirt' — Tommy Lloyd Said the next few days will involve discussions over whether to do that Most likely candidates: Bryce James, Mabil Mawut and Sidi Gueye, in that orderFor those unaware, redshirting refers to a player being held back from university competition to develop skills and extend their period of playing eligibility.The Wildcats boast a roster filled with some of the top recruits in the country. In light of the team’s quality, Bryce James, who was a three-star recruit out of high school, might not get much playing time in his freshman year.James is not alone, as other candidates like Mabil Mawut and Sidi Gueye could also redshirt their freshman season to focus on developing their skill sets.Continuing his conversation with the media, Lloyd emphasized that he respects James and wishes to help him develop:“My job is to respect him as a person and help him with his own journey,” Lloyd said. “And that’s our plan at Arizona. We got no extras. Let’s just help this kid develop into a great young man, and I think that’s what his family wants, and what he wants, and we’re gonna help him with that.”Could redshirting help Bryce James avoid the Bronny James treatment in the NBA?While redshirting will delay Bryce James’ journey to the NBA, it could be the best decision for him in the long term. His older brother, Bronny James, entered the NBA as the 55th pick in 2024. He struggled in his rookie season, recording 2.3 points through 27 games.Bronny was scrutinized by the media and had to deal with much slander from fans on social media. A year later, he still hasn’t found his footing and has yet to record any points in the 2025-26 season. Fans often wonder if James would’ve fared better in the NBA if he had spent more time in college.Now, with the possibility of Bryce James redshirting his freshman year in college, he might not have to face the same scrutiny his older brother did.A year spent on developing his skills could pay off in the form of increased playing time next season, further improving his case as an NBA prospect. It could also make his transition to the next level much easier.The only issue with Bryce James redshirting would be that he might not get to share the court with his dad, LeBron James. The Lakers forward emphasized in September that both Bryce and he are on different timelines, suggesting that he won’t push back his retirement to share the court with him.
