Bryce James earns new nickname from father LeBron James

Bryce James, son of NBA legend LeBron James, is gearing up for his inaugural season with the Arizona Wildcats after spending the previous term as a redshirt. Last season, Bryce did not see any playing time as Arizona enjoyed a dominant campaign, clinching both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, ultimately reaching the Final Four in the March Madness.

In recognition of Bryce's development, LeBron James has bestowed upon him a new moniker: "Maximus." The nickname was shared by LeBron on his Instagram Story after Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd commented on Bryce's progress and improvement ahead of the upcoming season. The reference to "Maximus" is inspired by the Roman general character portrayed by Russell Crowe in the film "Gladiator."

During a press conference, Lloyd expressed that Bryce has made significant strides and is progressing into a role player for the Wildcats. The coach emphasized Bryce's improvement in readiness to secure playing time this season.

Bryce redshirted during the 2025-26 season, when Arizona finished with an impressive 36-3 record. The decision to redshirt allowed Bryce additional time to develop within Arizona's program before making his college debut. Now, the focus is on the extent of the role Bryce can assume for the Wildcats this season.

With LeBron publicly endorsing Bryce's progress and urging him to improve by one percent every day, the 19-year-old is determined to make a significant impact on the court.