Close Friend Channing Frye Drops Intel on LeBron James’ NBA Plan With Son Bryce
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Former Cavaliers teammate Channing Frye thinks LeBron James is done playing with his sons in the NBA, revealing during an August 2026 episode of the Road Trippin' podcast that James’ new golf obsession signals the end of his career. LeBron spent part of his summer golfing in Scotland with members of the 2016 championship team and even launched a YouTube channel about it, but Frye insists the 41-year-old won't stay in the league long enough to play with his youngest son, Bryce.
“No. Uh, no. I think that is done and done,” Frye said. “Three more years? Lord, 45 and playing basketball? Like, he’s playing too much golf right now. I think he got one and a half maybe, I don’t know right now.”
Frye's comments suggest LeBron's window to team up with Bryce has closed, leaving his season with Bronny on the Lakers as a one-time event.
The Math Doesn't Work: College Timelines and the Sixers Horizon
The timeline makes a second father-son duo almost impossible. Bryce is starting his freshman year at Arizona and isn't projected to enter the NBA Draft until 2028 at the earliest. For LeBron to play with him, he would have to stay in the league into his mid-40s—a scenario Frye completely rules out.
Instead, LeBron is focused on his immediate championship goals in Philadelphia.
After signing a two-year deal with the 76ers in July 2026, he is tasked with leading the team alongside a healthy Joel Embiid. With the Sixers also adding Jaylen Brown this offseason, LeBron's final stretch is about chasing one more ring, not waiting for his youngest son to finish college.
As Bryce begins his journey at Arizona, fans hoping for another James family pairing on an NBA court will likely have to settle for watching LeBron finish his career on his own terms and head straight to the golf course.
Ubong Archibong is an NBA writer at BasketballNews, bringing over two years of experience in basketball coverage. Having previously worked with BasketballNews, Sportskeeda and FirstSportz, he has developed a strong foundation in delivering timely and engaging content around the league. His coverage focuses on game analysis, player performances, and evolving narratives across the National Basketball Association. Blending statistical insight with storytelling, Ubong aims to go beyond the immediate headline by placing performances and moments within a broader context, helping readers better understand the dynamics shaping the game. His work prioritizes clarity, accessibility, and a fan-first approach that connects audiences to both the action and the personalities behind it. Before joining BasketballNews, Ubong covered the NBA and WNBA across multiple platforms, building experience in fast-paced reporting and deadline-driven publishing. His background in content writing has strengthened his ability to balance speed with accuracy, ensuring consistent and reliable coverage for a global audience.
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