The beginning of Bryce James’ collegiate career at the University of Arizona has centered on the bench, not the court. The three-star freshman guard, and son of NBA superstar LeBron James, has yet to play in the Wildcats’ first three games of the season, prompting speculation that he may not play at all.
Following Arizona’s recent victory over Northern Arizona, Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd confirmed that redshirting James and his teammate, Mabil Mawut, is “on the table.”
The decision comes down to protecting James’ future eligibility, as the team’s championship-level depth makes rotational minutes difficult to earn for a player who was not expected to take on a significant role immediately.
“It’s tough. It puts you in a tough situation,” Lloyd said. “You play Bryce in a game like this [against Northern Arizona] for three minutes, it burns a year of eligibility. I wish it was easier.”
Lloyd expressed frustration with the NCAA’s current system, which lacks flexibility comparable to football’s redshirt rules. Instead, the coach is prioritizing the long-term benefit for his young player, even if it means sacrificing a few minutes of game experience this season.
Why this could be a good thing for Byrce:
“I want Bryce to have the best college basketball career and the most options in his college basketball career long-term, whatever that looks like,” Lloyd emphasized. “Throwing a kid with a lot of potential that’s developing… a few garbage minutes—it might feel good now, but potentially down the line it could be something you regret.”
For James, who carries one of the most recognizable names in sports, his freshman year has become a strategic year of development away from the spotlight. Lloyd revealed that the plan has been discussed with the young guard.
“I have been very direct—redshirting is on the table for him,” Lloyd said. “That’s why he hasn’t played in a game yet… We have had multiple conversations with Bryce about it. I think we are on the same page. No final decision has been made. The decision as of now is to protect his opportunity to redshirt. That’s the decision that’s being made.”
The focus for the former Sierra Canyon guard remains on building the foundational skills necessary to eventually contribute to one of the nation’s premier basketball programs.
