LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to their third straight win on Monday night, but the post-game spotlight quickly shifted from the scoreboard to a playful dispute over a family anecdote.
The 41-year-old superstar addressed a viral story shared by his son, Bronny James, regarding the last time the pair played a full game of one-on-one basketball.
Bronny James had recently told reporters that his father shattered a backboard out of frustration while trailing during the contest.
However, LeBron James offered a different version, suggesting that the broken hoop was more a byproduct of his own “invincible” dominance than a losing effort.
The elder James laughed recalling the incident from their years in Miami, confirming that the hoop was destroyed but disputing the idea that he was behind in the game.
“Yeah, we had a hoop in our driveway, and I drove around him and dunked it,” LeBron James said following the Lakers’ 120-101 victory over the Washington Wizards. “I didn’t mean to shatter the glass, but yeah, I shattered it.”
When asked if Bronny was winning at the time, LeBron James brushed it off.
“Yeah, he made a couple of shots, but that’s like Miami Bron. That’s like invincible Bron. So, it’s not like he was about to win,” he added.
The backboard dispute highlighted the unique locker-room and family dynamic as father and son navigate their second season as teammates. LeBron James acknowledged that the accident came with a price.
“Yeah, I didn’t mean to shatter that. I had to buy another one,” he noted, confirming the property damage while keeping the tone lighthearted.
A triple-double masterclass in Luka’s absence
On the court, LeBron James stepped into an expanded playmaking role with Luka Doncic serving a one-game suspension due to technical foul accumulation. In 33 minutes of action, LeBron James recorded his 125th career triple-double, finishing with 21 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds.
His performance anchored a dominant stretch in the second quarter, where the Lakers outscored the Wizards 40-18, building a decisive lead that the team would maintain through the remainder of the game.
The victory moved the Lakers to a 49-26 record, solidifying their hold on a top position in the Western Conference as the regular season heads into its final weeks. While the father-son backboard saga provided media fodder, LeBron James made it clear that his focus on performance remains unwavering, proving he can balance family, fun, and elite-level basketball simultaneously.
