NBA Notes: Bryce James, G League Trades, Boban Marjanovic, Thunder

Bryce James, the youngest son of NBA star LeBron James, has officially committed to play his college ball at Arizona for the 2025-26 season.

The 17-year-old senior guard, standing at 6’5″, is a three-star recruit and currently ranked No. 257 in his high school class.

Bryce also received offers from schools like Ohio State and Duquesne, but ultimately chose to join coach Tommy Lloyd‘s Wildcats, a program that will give him the platform to continue developing his game.

While expectations are always sky-high with a James in the family, Bryce’s game isn’t as polished as his older brother, Bronny James, was at this stage.

Bronny, now a rookie with the Lakers, took the one-and-done route at USC before making the leap to the NBA.

According to The Athletic’s Brendan Marks, Bryce is less physically strong and athletic than Bronny was at this age. That said, Bryce’s game still shows potential, but it’s clear he will need time to adjust to the college level.

While it’s easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding the James family, this commitment signals that Bryce has chosen a program that will let him grow and develop without undue pressure to be a star from day one. 

Elsewhere Around the NBA:

G League Trades: A three-team deal shook things up in the G League, with the Stockton Kings (Sacramento’s affiliate) acquiring Chasson Randle from the Iowa Wolves, while sending Drew Timme to Long Island. The Long Island Nets, in turn, sent former NBA wing Amari Bailey to Iowa. 

Boban Marjanovic to China: Veteran NBA center Boban Marjanovic is leaving the U.S. for the Chinese Basketball Association, signing with the Zhejiang Lions. After spending nine years in the NBA, including stints with the Rockets and a brief time with Fenerbahce in Turkey, Marjanovic’s size and skills will now be showcased on the other side of the world.

NBA Draft Assets: ESPN’s Bobby Marks took a deep dive into NBA teams’ future draft assets, and the Thunder are at the top of the heap, with 13 first-rounders over the next seven seasons. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have the fewest incoming first-round picks, with only four over the next seven years. This puts OKC in a prime position to either draft their future stars or make significant trades to strengthen the roster.