Considering he is the son of LeBron James - one of the greatest NBA players of all-time - it's fair to say Bronny James came into the league with a lot of hype, even before seeing what he could do on the court with his actual basketball skills.
Bronny was unsurprisingly selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, fulfilling LeBron's repeated public declaration of wanting to play with his son on the same team before calling it quits on his quite legendary career.
Bronny's first season in the NBA saw him show flashes of promise, but the need for development and progress was clear. While he's a talented player in his own right, trying to step into the shoes of his father was always going to be a tough, if even impossible, task. Bronny has had the unique perspective of seeing one of sport's greatest ever athletes up close and personal ever since he was born, and so to hear him talk about his influences and some of his basketball idols is always set to be intriguing.
Well, Bronny James gave his choices for his favourite NBA players of all-time, and he opted to leave out some huge names from the past like Michael Jordan in favour of some current superstars.
6 Anthony Edwards
© Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n""> © Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Starting off Bronny James' list of his favourite NBA players ever, is Anthony Edwards. The Minnesota Timberwolves star has quickly emerged as one of the most must-watch players in the league today, combining elite athleticism and natural charisma to become a genuine star who could pick up the mantle of becoming the face of the NBA.
Ant-man's growing confidence in his three-point shot has made him more of a threat in the modern NBA, and he enjoyed one of his finest campaigns in the 2024/2025 season, making it onto the All-NBA Second Team for the second time in a row. Last season also saw him be named an All-Star for the third time running, with the 24-year-old carrying the new-look Timberwolves on his back following the departure of Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks.
5 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Thunder
The reigning MVP of the league after an incredible 2024/2025 season that he eventually capped off with an NBA title, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes it onto the list of Bronny James' favourite NBA players of all-time. Given the way and style with which SGA plays, there's perhaps some similarities and inspiration that Bronny takes from the Oklahoma City Thunder star.
The 6 foot 6 shooting guard enjoyed a remarkable campaign last season, leading the league in scoring and being the main man of an exciting and talented Oklahoma team. Indeed, he became just the fourth player in NBA history to win the MVP, Finals MVP and scoring title all in the same season, with him averaging a whopping 32.7 points per game across the regular season.
4 Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant Suns
Now onto one of the greatest NBA players of all-time, Kevin Durant was name-checked as being Bronny James' one of his favourite players ever. KD is a two-time championship winner, having done so with the Golden State Warriors, picking up Finals MVP success on both occasions. While Durant's time as a Warrior saw him collect his two rings, it was with the Oklahoma City Thunder where he truly made his mark, winning the MVP award in 2014.
Picked 2nd in the 2007 NBA Draft by the then Seattle SuperSonics, Durant has won the NBA scoring title four times across his career, most recently doing so in 2014. Named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team, Durant has continued to impress in recent years despite having to recover from a significant knee injury he picked up during the Finals of the Golden State Warriors' clash against the Toronto Raptors a few years ago.
3 Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving
The man who helped LeBron James win a title with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving hit one of the NBA's greatest ever shots during that championship-winning run when he sunk a clutch three-pointer against the Golden State Warriors in the Finals. A supreme ball-handler who can crossover anyone and everyone in the NBA today, Kyrie will be hoping to deliver more title success now with the Dallas Mavericks.
Irving's partnership with LeBron while in Cleveland made them a feared two-man act, with the former shouldering some of the scoring burden. While he has been never named to the All-NBA First Team in his career, he has made the All-NBA Second Team once (in 2019), and the Third Team twice (in 2015 and 2021). Irving was also named to his ninth All-Star team last season, and will be hoping that he can return to form and fitness while with the Mavericks.
2 Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors drives past the Bucks' Brook Lopez during an NBA game.
Now the man who Bronny James regards as his second favourite NBA player in history, Stephen Curry it's fair to say, has revolutionised the NBA ever since he entered into the league. The greatest shooter to ever play the game, it's no surprise someone of Bronny's age is so enamoured by Curry given how the latter has been able to hit three-point shots further than anyone else and with more style too.
A once-in-a-generation player, Chef Curry has unsurprisingly led the league in scoring twice, doing so first in 2016 when he won the second of his MVPs, and then again in 2021. The Golden State Warriors point guard has won the NBA title four times with the franchise, establishing themselves as one of the greatest teams in history - indeed, the team they had built with Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green was even being compared to Michael Jordan's iconic Chicago Bulls side.
1 LeBron James
LeBron James
Unsurprisingly, Bronny James picked his father as his favourite NBA player of all-time. LeBron James' status as the GOAT of basketball is only really challenged by Michael Jordan, and given that he still plays to this day, could even add to his argument even further by winning another title or MVP award. Nevertheless, what James has already accomplished has cemented his legacy in the game.
A four-time MVP, LeBron hasn't actually won the award since 2013, but has continued to be one of the best players in the league. A 21-time NBA All-Star, James has also made an All-NBA Team 21 times, with 13 of them coming to the First Team. As well as leading the league in scoring and assists in one season each, James also got his hands on the NBA Cup in 2023, being named the MVP of the newly-created competition too.