LeBron James still remembers Jaylen Brown's Bronny comments at Summer League 2 years ago
LeBron James has built a legendary career on physical dominance, but his mental library of perceived slights is equally formidable. Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-89 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer reminded the basketball world that he keeps permanent receipts—specifically regarding his son, Bronny James.
When asked by reporters about his relationship with Celtics star Jaylen Brown, James initially offered high praise for Brown’s MVP-caliber season. However, he quickly pivoted to a specific grievance from nearly two years ago. "Our relationship has been pretty respectful, besides the sh*t he said about Bronny in Summer League," James said, delivering the line with a knowing smirk that suggested the comment still lingers. "But other than that, we've been all right."
The "sh*t" in question references a viral lip-reading incident from the 2024 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Brown, sitting courtside with WNBA players Kysre Gondrezick and Angel Reese, was caught on camera appearing to whisper, "I don't think Bronny is a pro." The clip immediately circulated online, prompting Brown to issue a damage-control tweet at the time, calling it a "flex" to see a father and son in the league together.
While James attempted to diffuse the tension by noting that "it’s all good" and acknowledging Brown’s subsequent social media clarification, the fact that he resurrected the topic unprompted in 2026 is telling. James has long operated with a Michael Jordan-esque ability to manufacture motivation from criticism. By bringing up the 2024 slight after a blowout loss, James subtly shifted the narrative from the Lakers' defeat to his protective paternal instincts.
Despite the jab, James questioned why the Celtics forward isn't receiving more MVP buzz while leading Boston to the second seed in the East. Yet, the exchange serves as a sharp reminder: while the respect between the two All-Stars is mutual, the King hasn't entirely scrubbed the tape of Brown’s doubt regarding Bronny’s NBA viability. In the historic Lakers-Celtics rivalry, personal history remains the ultimate fuel.
When asked by reporters about his relationship with Celtics star Jaylen Brown, James initially offered high praise for Brown’s MVP-caliber season. However, he quickly pivoted to a specific grievance from nearly two years ago. "Our relationship has been pretty respectful, besides the sh*t he said about Bronny in Summer League," James said, delivering the line with a knowing smirk that suggested the comment still lingers. "But other than that, we've been all right."
The "sh*t" in question references a viral lip-reading incident from the 2024 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Brown, sitting courtside with WNBA players Kysre Gondrezick and Angel Reese, was caught on camera appearing to whisper, "I don't think Bronny is a pro." The clip immediately circulated online, prompting Brown to issue a damage-control tweet at the time, calling it a "flex" to see a father and son in the league together.
While James attempted to diffuse the tension by noting that "it’s all good" and acknowledging Brown’s subsequent social media clarification, the fact that he resurrected the topic unprompted in 2026 is telling. James has long operated with a Michael Jordan-esque ability to manufacture motivation from criticism. By bringing up the 2024 slight after a blowout loss, James subtly shifted the narrative from the Lakers' defeat to his protective paternal instincts.
Despite the jab, James questioned why the Celtics forward isn't receiving more MVP buzz while leading Boston to the second seed in the East. Yet, the exchange serves as a sharp reminder: while the respect between the two All-Stars is mutual, the King hasn't entirely scrubbed the tape of Brown’s doubt regarding Bronny’s NBA viability. In the historic Lakers-Celtics rivalry, personal history remains the ultimate fuel.
