Nearly two years after Jaylen Brown made headlines for questioning Bronny James’ NBA readiness, LeBron James has made it clear the comments have not been entirely forgotten. Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-89 loss to the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena, the four-time NBA champion addressed the lingering tension stemming from the 2024 NBA Summer League incident.
Back in July 2024, during a preseason matchup in Las Vegas, Brown was caught on camera speaking courtside with WNBA players Kysre Gondrezick and Angel Reese.
In the viral clip, the Celtics star appeared to say he didn’t “think Bronny is a pro.”
He further suggested that the younger James would secure a roster spot with the Lakers and avoid a stint in the G-League “because of his name.”
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The remarks ignited debate across the basketball world, especially given the unique spotlight surrounding Bronny as the son of one of the sport’s greatest players.
Shortly after the video circulated, Brown addressed the situation on X. While he stopped short of issuing a formal apology, his tone shifted significantly.
“It’s a flex to have your son alongside you in the nba it reflects greatness and longevity,” Brown wrote. “Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful I look forward to watching his growth.”
That public statement appeared to ease tensions at the time. However, when asked recently about his relationship with Brown, LeBron James acknowledged that the Summer League comments still resonated.
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“Our relationship has been pretty respectful,” LeBron James said when discussing his history with the Boston forward.
“You know, besides the s**t he said about Bronny in Summer League. But other than that, you know, we’ve been all right.”
The candid remark underscored that while professional respect remains intact, the father in LeBron has not entirely brushed aside the criticism aimed at his son.
He later added: “We’ll be all right. We’ll be all right. He went on social media and said something about it. It’s all good. But Bronny’s got a long way to go. But that’s another story.”
For LeBron, many would say he handled the situation with dignity – standing up for his son but also recognizing that Brown made a mistake with his poor choice of words.
His battles with the Celtics have defined multiple eras of his career, from Eastern Conference showdowns to his current tenure in Los Angeles. The added layer involving his son only heightens the emotional stakes.
Bronny proves Brown wrong with humble rise
Selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, Bronny entered the league amid extraordinary attention.
As a rookie, he appeared in 27 games for Los Angeles, navigating the steep learning curve that comes with NBA competition.
This season, the 21-year-old has featured in 29 contests, averaging 2.2 points per game as he continues to develop his skill set.
While Brown has since offered supportive words about Bronny’s growth, the episode illustrates how quickly comments can linger in the tightly woven NBA community.
For now, both superstars appear willing to move forward – even if the memory of that Summer League moment still simmers beneath the surface.
