Bronny James was feeling the love from Cleveland Cavaliers fans as he scored his first NBA points on the very same court he watched his father, LeBron, begin his rise to stardom.
“It was insane,” Bronny said of the reception following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 134-110 defeat to the Cavs, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Much more than I anticipated for sure. But it’s all love. It was insane. It was a nice moment. The chants really got me. I was straight-faced, but I felt it and it felt really good, especially coming from here.
“Yeah, it was a special moment for me for sure.”
Lakers head coach JJ Redick subbed Bronny in midway through the fourth quarter with the game out of reach and a sold-out crowd chanting “We Want Bronny!”
The 20-year-old from Akron, Ohio, then knocked down a step-back jumper over Cavs rookie Jaylon Tyson to the delight of the fans in attendance.
LeBron commended his son for the poise he showed in the milestone moment.
“He’s better than I would have been in that situation – 20,000 fans screaming my name to get in the game and wanting me to be in the game, and if the role’s reversed, I don’t know if I would have been able to handle it,” LeBron said. “To see him get his first NBA basket in this arena where he grew up not too far away from here, it’s an unbelievable moment.
“An unbelievable moment for him, first of all. For our family. It’s just pretty cool to be a part of it.”
Bronny finished with two points, two assists, and one steal in five minutes of action. He’s reportedly expected to begin splitting time between the Lakers and their G League affiliate when L.A.’s upcoming road trip concludes Nov. 6.
