LeBron James ‘Damn Proud’ Of Bronny For McDonald’s All-American Game Selection

Twenty years after LeBron James was named MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game, his son Bronny will participate in this year’s game.

“Congratulations Son! So damn proud of you! Continue to be you through it all no matter what!! You’re truly AMAZING!!!” James posted on social media.

LeBron was the MVP of the 2003 game after finishing with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft just three months later.

LeBron also congratulated “all the other men and women” selected for this year’s game, which is set for March 28 at the Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets, and will be telecast live on ESPN.

Bronny, a 6-foot-2 senior guard at Sierra Canyon (CA) in Los Angeles, was chosen as part of the West team.

Four Kentucky players were chosen for the game, including DJ Wagner, who followed his grandfather Milt and father Dajuan as the third member of his family to be selected.

Duke had three players selected, and Oregon and Michigan State two apiece.

Bronny is the only uncommitted player chosen for the game. He plans to announce after the high school season and is considering USC, Ohio State and Oregon, but told On3.com he remains “open” to other options.

As LeBron closes in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time NBA scoring record, which he could surpass next month, another factor is keeping him motivated to play as he approaches his 40s: his desire to play with Bronny.

Bronny won’t be eligible for the NBA until 2024, when LeBron turns 40.

“I need to be on the floor with my boy,” LeBron told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin for a piece on “NBA Today.” “I gotta be on the floor with Bronny.”

LeBron said it could be either in the “same uniform or a matchup with him…I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr./Jr. thing. That would be ideal, for sure, being with him, spending a full year with him in the same uniform, that would be the icing on the cake.”

The Griffeys played together for the Cincinnati Reds in 1990 and ‘91, and actually hit back-to-back home runs in one game in 1990.

Last August, LeBron agreed to a 2-year, $97.1 million extension with the Lakers, with a player option for 2024-25.

Asked what he tells Bronny about their potential future together, LeBron said, “We don’t, we don’t discuss. He hears what I say. I asked him what is his aspirations, and he says he wants to play in the NBA, so he wants to do it. Put in the work. I’m here already so I’m just waiting on him.”

Savannah James, Bronny’s mother, said she just wants her son to be happy — no matter what he ends up doing.

“Of course Dad is wanting [Bronny] to play on the same court eventually, maybe on the same team,” she told SI for the October issue. “That would be the icing on the cake for his career, and probably [as] a father.

“But for me, I just want [Bronny] to be happy. If you are happy playing in gaming competitions in Long Beach, then that’s what I want you to do. If you’re happy being a franchise player for an NBA team, that’s what I want you to do. . . . A lot of people are doing things and moving through life and aren’t necessarily happy.”