Bronny James spent Sunday night on the Lakers’ bench, but the conversation around him came from the stands.
James did not play in Los Angeles’ 121-116 win over the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. The Lakers moved to 9-2 while he watched after returning from a G League stint with the Coachella Valley Lakers, where he put up 22 points and seven assists. Across five NBA appearances this season, James has four points in 12 minutes.
The attention shifted when videos began circulating on social media showing James trading words with a Pistons fan. According to the clip, Bronny asked the fan, “Can you run a mile?
How much money you making?” Lakers staffers then stepped in to hold him back as it seemed the exchange was not over.
Reports did not say what the fan said to James. It was also reported that she was removed from the game after the confrontation, although that has not been confirmed.
Reaction online came fast. “So people can’t heckle at games anymore???
Also she’s courtside so she got some money fasho. Not billionaire daddy money but enough,” one fan commented.
Another wrote, “Flexing Nepotism Money is a new low for Bronny.” Someone else added, “Like father, like son,” while another user said, “You know a n****s hurt when he goes straight to money😂,”
James was not the only Laker involved in a tense moment. According to BasketNews, Austin Reaves left the bench during a late second-quarter stoppage and walked over to a fan near the baseline. The two stood face to face for about a minute.
Reaves was asked about it after the game and replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,”
Luka Doncic did not play, sitting out because of back tightness.
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