Bronny James Follows In Dad LeBron's Footsteps With Sign Nike Deal

Bronny James continues to make his father proud! The up-and-coming athlete, best known as LeBron James's oldest son, is steadily paving a path to the Hall of Fame.

With his sensational skills, the younger James may likely succeed the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.

While the undisputed King of the basketball court is yet to drop the crown, his 18-year-old son has repeatedly proven himself as a worthy candidate. The high schooler recently reaped great rewards for his efforts.

Bronny has officially joined his father as a member of Nike's basketball family. ESPN shared details about the incredible milestone following the sportswear giant's announcement about their endorsement deal.

The label revealed they had a signed name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals with five top amateur basketball players. No surprise, the lot was headlined by LeBron's son, who already has a spot in his father's latest business venture.

In 2015, the four-time NBA champion signed a lifetime deal with Nike. This agreement has produced several of the athlete's iconic shoes, including his newest signature sneaker, the Nike LeBron 20.

Given Bronny's celebrated basketball skills and his father's longtime relationship with the sportswear brand, it was only a matter of time before the 18-year-old scored a deal with Nike. Proud of his achievement, the Sierra Canyon High School senior released a heartfelt statement.

"For as long as I can remember, Nike's been a part of my family. Getting a chance to team up with them and continue my family's legacy both on the court and in the community is wild -- it really means a lot to me."

In addition to Bronny, the NIL deals incorporated four other talented athletes from other Nike-sponsored schools. In a statement, the sportswear mogul noted that each player was chosen based on different merits.

"Each athlete is recognized as a player who is paving the way for the next generation on and off the court," the brand said. "These athletes push Nike to think about new ways the game can break barriers, bring people together, build community and shape the future."

The list included Iowa's junior point guard Caitlin Clark, Stanford senior guard Haley Jones, Sierra Canyon High School star guard Juju Watkins, and D.J. Wagner, a top-ranked point guard of class 2023 from Camden, New Jersey. 

Coincidentally, Nike's NIL endorsement deal came as a belated birthday present for Bronny.

Per The Blast, the younger James clocked 18 on October 6, much to the delight of his doting father. In an emotional Instagram tribute, the "Space Jam: A New Legacy" star shared a throwback picture of his oldest son as a toddler. The little boy joined his father on the basketball court, where King James was being interviewed.

Reminiscing about the time Bronny could fit perfectly in his arms, the father-of-three raved about how he could not believe his little boy had grown into a young man. The 37-year-old continued by pledging his unwavering love and support.

Similarly, the NBA superstar's wife, Savannah, lauded her son with praises on her Instagram page. The proud mother shared a throwback picture of her firstborn as a baby alongside an affectionately penned caption filled with good wishes.

Both parents received tons of positive responses for their posts, while Bronny got lots of love from fans, celebrities, and family members, who wished the rising basketballer a hearty birthday.

King James' reign as the LA Lakers forward will not end anytime soon, as The Blast previously reported that the NBA legend extended his contract with the iconic team by two years.

The Olympic gold medalist's new agreement brought better benefits, including a significant financial increase. The athlete's agent and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul confirmed the extension's worth around $97.1 million.

The contract came with a "15% trade kicker and a starter salary of $46.7 million." With the terms and his renewed contract, LeBron earned the title of the highest-earning player in NBA history, with career earnings of $532 million.