Bronny James’ name never seems to fade too far from the media. While James hasn’t played significant minutes during his rookie season, he and his father LeBron James have been a hot topic lately, especially after the latter’s public confrontation with Stephen A. Smith.
Due to the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent injuries, the younger James has seen more minutes in recent games, which led to a viral interaction between the former Sierra Canyon guard and a heckler in the crowd.
Bronny James Responds to Heckler During Nuggets Game
James’ performances are often scrutinized, largely because of the attention that comes with his father’s legacy. As a late second-round rookie, he still needs time to develop and is unfairly thrust into the focal point of sports debates.
During the Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers game on March 14, James played 16 minutes and was heckled by fans. The Nuggets crowd booed him heavily, but he took a moment to fire back at one person in the crowd with a quick response.
“YA CHAIN IS FAKE”
-Bronny James to a heckler at the Nuggets vs Lakers game pic.twitter.com/XRaH6PFgXt
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) March 16, 2025
James finished the game with five points, two rebounds, and one steal. However, his biggest moment came when he hit a 3-pointer over Nuggets star Nikola Jokić. Earlier this season, he also sank a contested layup over multiple defenders in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
James entered the NBA after one season at USC and was selected with the 55th pick by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft. Since then, he’s had a slow start in the NBA but has shown promise in the NBA G League.
During his time with the South Bay Lakers, James has averaged 20.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game in nine regular season games.
Will James End Up in the Lakers’ Playoff Rotation
It’s unlikely James will be part of the Lakers’ playoff rotation, but stranger things have happened. He could find a role as a defensive option against younger teams in the postseason.
James has faced heavy scrutiny because of his father and draft position, but that comes with the territory. Rookies are often labeled potential busts and criticized for their decision-making well before they even get a chance to prove themselves or develop.
However, his frequent media coverage is an issue that is unjust to him and others. For a player averaging fewer than 15 minutes per game, being the lead topic on sports shows doesn’t add up. James will continue to develop under criticism, but it needs to be constructive.