LeBron James Throws Shade at NBA Champion for Bronny James Comments
LeBron James is gearing up for yet another postseason appearance, and this time, he’ll likely be on the court at the same time with his son, Bronny James.
The pair have been featured in several father-son highlights over the past several weeks, including the NBA‘s first-ever assist from a father to a son, and vice versa. LeBron has also been vocally supportive of his son’s growth and improvement while playing in the G League and on the Lakers’ roster this season.
One thing he won’t tolerate is any remarks criticizing his relationship with his kids. Just ask Stephen A. Smith. More recently, it became apparent during a special edition of the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron and co-host Steve Nash.
The pair discussed which rookies from last year’s NBA Draft class they thought would have successful careers. The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg, Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel, and San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper all received mentions.
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According to Nash, he thought Knueppel would win the NBA Rookie of the Year award, but Flagg has the most upside among rookies. However, Nash also praised Harper, suggesting he was on a team with a lot of talent, which has limited his opportunities.
Nonetheless, the former two-time MVP suggested that Harper could be an eight or 10-time All-Star before his career is over. LeBron seemed to agree, but his comment didn’t back away from throwing some shade.
“Dylan is great. I mean his Daddy ain't [expletive]. I’ll see him when I see him,” LeBron said on the podcast, with him and Nash chuckling over the remark before moving on.
Dylan Harper’s dad is Ron Harper, who spent 15 years in the NBA and won five NBA championships. He played for the Chicago Bulls alongside Michael Jordan, and later for the Lakers alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
Harper was an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons from 2005 to 2007. During an All-Star Weekend interview with his sons, Ron Harper told reporters, “I’m not LeBron James,” and he would never tell his sons “what they have to do.”
According to LeBron, during an “Uninterrupted” interview five years ago, he never asked his kids once if they wanted to play basketball, suggesting that Bronny and Bryce chose on their own. While Bronny has since joined LeBron’s NBA team, LeBron’s other son, Bryce, is still a member of the Arizona Wildcats.
His NBA future is currently unclear, as he was a redshirt for Arizona last season, but he could see time on the court in their upcoming season.
In addition to his son, Dylan, playing in the NBA with the Spurs, Ron Harper’s other son, Ronald Harper Jr., plays for the Boston Celtics. Both squads are in the NBA Playoffs and could meet in the NBA Finals depending on how things play out.
Meanwhile, that subtle shot LeBron took may have been him joking around, or he may still be feeling stung by what Harper said about his relationships with his sons.
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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 1:21 PM.