LeBron James Reacts to Bronny James' Dunk in Lakers Summer League Game
The Los Angeles Lakers returned to Summer League action on Sunday with their highly anticipated matchup against the Miami Heat, and all eyes were on Bronny James as he made his 2025 Summer League debut. After sitting out Saturday's opener against the Golden State Warriors, James stepped into the lineup looking to make an early impact.
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James' rookie campaign was a learning curve, marked by split time between the Lakers' main roster and their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. He appeared in 27 NBA games last season, averaging 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists in limited minutes, but found his rhythm in the G League, posting 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 11 games.
With a full year of pro experience under his belt, many fans expect the 20-year-old guard to earn a bigger role in his sophomore season.
He wasted no time showing that progress on Sunday. Just seconds after tipoff, James picked off a pass, sprinted the length of the floor, and threw down a powerful dunk to open the scoring for Los Angeles — a highlight that quickly made the rounds online.
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The dunk caught the attention of none other than his father, LeBron James, who proudly reposted the video to his Instagram story.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts to Bronny James highlight on Instagram.kingjames / instagram
LeBron and Bronny became the first father-son duo in the NBA. With the four-time MVP picking up his $52.6 million player option last month, both players will now prepare to share the Lakers' locker room for a second straight year.
Bronny James' statement play early in Summer League hints at the improvements he's made to his game and his readiness to compete for meaningful minutes next season.
Related: Bronny James Comments on Immediate NBA Future Amid Lakers' Decision
Related: Steph Curry's Message to LeBron James Turns Heads After Warriors-Lakers Trade Report
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
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