Lakers manager reveals details of LeBron Bronny trash talk incident

LeBron James stood by his statement that Bronny is not allowed to call him daddy on the court.

LeBron showed this early on in one of his first duels as teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers. He's not here to babysit his oldest son. Not as long as they do their job.

Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' vice president of basketball operations and general manager, revealed that heated arguments broke out between father and son during one of the team's pickup games.

“[Bronny] switched to LeBron, and LeBron got him up and down the glass on the baseline,” Pelinka told reporters on Sept. 25. “The words exchanged afterwards were probably more challenging than anything else.”

This particular play sent Bronny a message about the reality he faces as he prepares for his historic NBA debut.

LeBron and Bronny will make history as the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA. Whether that will happen on opening night against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22 is still uncertain, according to Lakers rookie coach JJ Redick.

“We as a team have obviously talked about it and gone into some details about what that might look like,” Redick told reporters during the Lakers' preseason press conference on Sept. 25. “But we haven’t committed to anything. And of course there's a discussion to be had when we're all with Bronny and LeBron. You should be part of this discussion too.”

LeBron James' competitive advantage

Even at 39 years old, LeBron's competitive edge hasn't diminished.

This incident of talking nonsense with his son was further evidence of his enthusiasm in helping Team USA win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

After Pelinka shared details of the father-son encounter on the court, LeBron quickly followed up with more trash talk on his Instagram story.

“Great defense. Better O,” he wrote, accompanied by ESPN’s quote graphic of Pelinka’s anecdote.

It remains to be seen whether LeBron's shadow on Bronny will play a big role in what is expected to be a very closely scrutinized rookie season with the Lakers.

LeBron James honors retired Derrick Rose

LeBron paid tribute to Derrick Rose, the youngest MVP in NBA history, upon his retirement.

“Much love and respect, Pooh!!! Salute,” James posted on his Instagram story.

Rose, 35, announced his retirement on September 26, days after the Memphis Grizzlies did not renew his contract.

“Thank you, my first love,” Rose said in his resignation statement. “You believed in me through the ups and downs, my constant when everything else seemed uncertain. You showed me what love really means. They made the farm my sanctuary, a home where I could express myself freely…

“You gave me a gift, our time together, one that I will cherish for the rest of my days. You told me it was okay to say goodbye and assured me that no matter where life takes me, you will always be a part of me.”

During the former Bulls guard's heyday, James and Rose fought their hard-fought playoff battles in the Eastern Conference.

Rose was selected No. 1 overall by his hometown team Chicago in 2008, similar to James, who was selected by his hometown team Cleveland in 2003.

During James' final season with the Cavaliers, they once played as teammates in Cleveland, albeit for a short time. But persistent injuries during this time have robbed Rose of his athleticism and desire to play.

Erle Almo is a basketball journalist who covers the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 15 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and now lives in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo