LeBron James might be gearing up for his 23rd NBA season at the ripe old age of 40 but his eyes are not currently on the Los Angeles Lakers, as he turns his attention to his son’s new look.
Coming off a year in which he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, he’s preparing for another campaign at the top level of basketball, yet the four-time champion recently experienced a different kind of excitement.
That came in the form of seeing his youngest son, Bryce, return home after his first stint away at college as he attends the University of Arizona and plays for the Wildcats basketball team.
After spending most of his high school basketball career at Sierra Canyon, he closed his prep tenure in style, helping the program secure a California State Division 1 championship.
Now he’s back in California for some rest and recovery but when the 18-year-old returned home during the offseason, LeBron was taken aback by a noticeable change in his appearance.
“Y’all see his beard? Oh my goodness,” James exclaimed, his surprise evident in the short clip that was shared on Instagram to some 159 million followers as he reacted to the 6-foot-6 shooting guard’s new style.
In Arizona, Bryce will embark on his freshman season under the tutelage of Tommy Lloyd, a head coach who set an NCAA Division 1 record with 61 wins in his first two seasons.
Born in 2007, Bryce is just 18 years old but already stands out physically in collegiate basketball circles and his upcoming season faces high expectations as James’ skill set fits seamlessly into his boss’ up-tempo, guard-friendly system.
Known for his perimeter shooting and length on defense, he is projected to compete for minutes early in his collegiate career as Arizona open their season on November 3 against a formidable opponent, the defending national champion Florida Gators.
Los Angeles Lakers star undergoes huge physical transformation
Meanwhile, Bryce might not be the only man impressing LeBron with a physical change up as Maxi Kleber has drawn attention this offseason after images surfaced showing the Lakers forward in noticeably stronger physical condition.
Known primarily as a versatile, defense-oriented big man, the German appears to have added significant upper-body muscle while maintaining his mobility as he looks to excel on defense once again.
Throughout his career, the 6-foot-10 athlete has been valued for his ability to switch defensively, protect the rim, and space the floor as a spot-up shooter, and while his statistics are modest, his impact often extends beyond the box score.
Injuries have been a recurring issue for the 33-year-old, who has not played more than 60 games in a season since 2019/20, but a healthier, stronger version could offer meaningful minutes in the Lakers‘ rotation if he can be fully utilized.
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