Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James turned heads when he left the Lakers' bench on Sunday.
Unfortunately for LeBron James' son, it was not to enter the game against the Phoenix Suns.
The Lakers defeated Kevin Durant and the struggling Suns 107-96, snapping a four-game losing streak that started last weekend against the Boston Celtics. Neither James played - LeBron is still nursing a groin injury, while Bronny's exclusion was by coach's decision.
Luka Doncic's game-high 33 points and entertaining trash talk was a major talking point from the Lakers' win, but an interaction caught on camera involving the unused James drew just as much attention on social media.
A popular Lakers fan account posted a video on X recorded by a fan inside Crypto.com Arena that indicated how James, 20, is treated within the hierarchy of J.J. Redick's team.
He could be seen sitting with a teammate on the hardwood rather than the pine, all the way on the baseline beyond the home bench.
Although multiple aggregation accounts suggested his father took his spot on the bench, a photo taken earlier in the game showed LeBron in the same seat as the video. Based on the picture, Bronny's spot next to his dad was likely taken by injured Los Angeles forward Rui Hachimura.
https://t.co/DeZwX97Frv
— (@n8thanthis) March 16, 2025
Either way, the reactions to James' misfortune included plenty of teasing for the rookie.
"bro gon criss cross apple sauce," joked a reply on X.
"Welcome to the league rook," said one response.
Nah GOAT that wicked
— JadenHicksSZN (@Ujkkk133434) March 16, 2025
"He said you airball a 3 last game," cracked another. "You haven't earned a chair."
"He was getting grounded if he didn't," said a fan, commenting on the unique NBA father-son dynamic.
classic dad move by LeBron there
"move son you got younger legs to get up and down"
— Jason (@_JayySunn) March 16, 2025
James' removal from the bench is nothing new for the first-year pro, who has suited up for 39 Lakers games during the 2024-2025 NBA season, but only played in 19 of them. A similar video went viral during the Lakers game against the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this month.
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Related: LeBron James' Strong Message After Lakers Make Bronny Move
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This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM.