LeBron James' son, Bronny, may not have had the best game against the Washington State Cougars on Wednesday, but a courtside moment involving his superstar father stole the show. As LeBron and his wife, Savannah, entered the Galen Center in LA, they took their seats next to an unsuspecting fan who was caught completely off guard.
The fan's priceless reaction, captured by cameras, went viral on social media, sparking jokes and memes about his starstruck expression. From staring in shock to burying his face in his phone, the internet had a field day imagining the poor guy's internal monologue.
"Man couldn't believe it," one fan wrote.
"Bro wanted to scream so bad," another joked.
The reactions perfectly captured the mix of awe and awkwardness one might feel upon encountering their sporting idol in such close proximity.
But while the fan's moment had everyone buzzing, the game itself wasn't as rosy for Bronny. With his father watching, he finished with 0 points on 0-for-3 shooting in 16 minutes as the Trojans fell 72-64. This marked his second straight game without a field goal, raising concerns about his recent performance.
Just days prior, LeBron had confidently claimed that Bronny could "play for us right now" after the Lakers' loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. This bold statement added further pressure to Bronny's performance, making his struggles even more noticeable.
While Bronny is still averaging a decent 5.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, his shooting percentages have taken a dip. This has caused him to slip in recent NBA mock drafts, with some even projecting him to go undrafted.
Experts cite concerns about his inconsistent scoring and need to improve as a ball handler. They believe he needs to "become more of a true combo guard than an undersized 3-and-D wing" to solidify his draft prospects.
For Bronny, the coming months will be crucial as he strives to prove his doubters wrong and showcase the skills that led his father to make such a bold claim. While his courtside encounter with LeBron provided a lighthearted moment, it's his performance on the court that will ultimately determine his future in the NBA.
