When Bronny James was making his G League debut, it had plenty of star power in the crowd—LeBron, Savannah James, and even Lakers execs made sure to be there. But if you were wondering why Bryce Maximus James was nowhere to be seen, there’s a good reason. The 17-year-old had his own basketball obligations, repping Sierra Canyon at their tip-off event. And his commitment to Sierra Canyon has paid off.

Sierra Canyon has once again made it to the CIF State Playoffs in the Open division. If a team wants a shot at the CIF State playoffs, they have to earn it. And honestly, that’s how it should be. Nothing’s guaranteed anymore, except maybe Sierra Canyon showing up. Since the division was created in 2017, they’re the only team that hasn’t missed a single postseason.

Celebrating this achievement of making another playoffs, the school’s Instagram page congratulated the team. Among them was Bryce. Savannah wasted no time in sharing the post on her story.

She overlaid the post with the reaction, “Us🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤”. 

The CIF Southern Section Boys’ Basketball Championships aren’t for the faint of heart—Southern California’s best teams are ready to battle it out. Sierra Canyon, slotted as the No. 6 seed, is in Group B, with the action tipping off Wednesday. But let’s talk about Bryce Maximus James for a second. Earlier this season, he ended the suspense and committed to Arizona. Looks like he’s following his brother’s path to the NBA.

And with Luka Doncic in Hollywood now, things could get interesting. According to Kevin Garnett this could help LeBron’s chances of playing with Bryce James. According to KG, “This is who you give the keys to. … Now you just bought Bron two more years. This is how Bron is going to play with Bryce.” In other words, with Luka leading the way, LeBron might extend his career just long enough to share the floor with his youngest son. If that happens, it’s going to be another historic moment in the NBA with LeBron.

Will Bryce James make it to the NBA?

Bryce James isn’t on billboards or national commercials like Bronny was, but his name still gets respect in basketball circles. If you’ve kept up with him, you probably remember that viral clip where a fan kept pestering him—he handled it like a pro. LeBron has shared highlights, and major hoops pages have taken notice, but he’s never been in the constant spotlight like his brother. Bronny had NBA stars hyping him up and major endorsements. Bryce? He’s kept a lower profile.

As a player, the buzz isn’t as loud. ESPN lists him as a four-star recruit, while other rankings put him at three. Bronny had a more solidified status, but Bryce has serious game. He’s competed at Team USA’s junior national camp alongside Kiyan Anthony (Carmelo’s son) and Alijah Arenas (Gilbert’s son). His biggest weapon? His shooting touch. LeBron once called him the “best shooter in the household” when he was just 11.

The NBA remains a question mark. He’s not showing up in 2026 or 2027 mock drafts, and some say without the James name, he wouldn’t be a major prospect. But people said the same about Bronny. Lakers Nation’s Matthew Valento notes there’s no pressure for Bryce to go one-and-done at Arizona—his first year will be telling. Maybe the Lakers will take a shot at him.

And LeBron? Could he stick around long enough to team up with Bryce? Even he doesn’t know. “Oh shit. Bryce is a senior,” he said in October. “We’ll see. That would be pretty cool.”

So whether he makes it to the NBA or not only time will tell. For now he’s got the playoffs ahead of him and then the Arizona Wildcats await him.