The Los Angeles Lakers are battling through a wave of injuries, and on Friday night against the Denver Nuggets, it opened up opportunities for several players who haven't seen much action this season. One of those players was rookie Bronny James, who was called up after spending a week with the G League's South Bay Lakers.
While Bronny has excelled in the G League, adjusting to the NBA has been a challenge. However, after scoring five quick points in the first quarter, his confidence was evident.
Though the Lakers ultimately fell short to a fully healthy Nuggets team, a memorable moment came when James had a brief exchange with a heckling fan. His three-word response to the fan quickly grabbed attention and became a talking point.
"Yo chain fake," James said.
Bronny James:
"Yo chain fake."
(via @hooper_IG)pic.twitter.com/RbE6G0tjXM
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 16, 2025
Bronny James has faced significant attention and pressure during his rookie season after being selected 55th overall following one year at USC. Playing alongside his father, LeBron, is a historic moment in NBA history, one that's never been seen before. However, with such a rare opportunity comes intense scrutiny, particularly for the 20-year-old.
Despite this, Bronny has handled the spotlight exceptionally well, staying focused on his game. Yet, one such example of LeBron feeling the need to defend his son occurred recently when LeBron approached ESPN "First Take" analyst Stephen A. Smith, telling him to "stop [explicit] with my son" after Smith made a comment on his show that didn't sit right with LeBron.
On the court, Bronny is averaging 20.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in the G League. These impressive numbers surpass those of many of his rookie class counterparts.
Related: Bronny James Has Surprising NBA Players That He Models Game After
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This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 12:04 PM.